Rhetorical Analysis Essay
The argument of the three op-eds is that e-commerce has changed the way we live and shop. However, not all the articles agree on the effect of e-commerce. They range in terms of how retail has changed and what’s on the horizon. Amy Koss writing for the LA Times likens Amazon.com to Satan. The Editorial Board of the New York Times takes a more measured approach but still puts forward a doom-and-gloom perspective. Daniel Freedman of the Wall Street Journal is the only one of the three to recognize that Amazon has not killed off the human desire for contact and sociality and that retail is not dead but only changing the way it thinks of itself and the manner in which it caters to consumers: retail is no longer just about offering a product but rather about offering an experience—something that cannot be purchased online. This paper will perform a rhetorical analysis of the three op-eds to show how they differ and which is the most effective.
Koss and the LA Times
The tone of Koss’s piece is gothic and romantic. It begins by describing a mall as a deserted structure like an old ruined castle where “lost souls†wander and over which Satan (Amazon) has cast his pall. The evidence that Koss presents is entirely anecdotal—all of it is witnessed first-hand. She provides no hyperlinks to other web pages or sources of information to support her claims. She is simply telling what she sees and how she perceives it. She tells of visiting the mall, seeing all the closed shops, and talking briefly to a sales woman who sales that everything must go because they too are closing soon. The metaphor that Koss employs is that Amazon is the Devil that has given people everything they want with just the click of a button: the price is that retailers are dying. Book sellers are losing hope. Everyone is shopping online and losing their humanity. The author does not supply much ethos but instead jumps into pathos and uses imagery to appeal to the reader’s emotions. The trick does not always work and the piece sometimes stumbles into bathos as she returns to the theme of Amazon being Satan and the e-commerce shopper being in the grip of the devil.
The central argument of the op-ed is that Amazon is bad because it has ruined malls, driving book sellers and other retailers out of business, and assumed near total control over people’s shopping habits through the use of “Big Data†(Koss). It sees and knows all and anticipates every consumer’s next move. The argument is couched in Koss’s narrative of visiting the mall and talking to book sellers. Their experiences are used to support her own. She provides background information along the way when it is needed to help her flesh out a point. The argument is not so much proven as reiterated, like a theme, in variations throughout the piece. It is assumed that the reader of the piece will be sympathetic to what Koss is describing—but Koss’s take is somewhat glib and superficial: it is too easy to describe Amazon as Satan, and a thinking person will not subscribe to Koss’s depiction. Koss uses colloquialisms like “we recite the roll of the dead†when describing the long list of retailers that have expired. But her use of terms like “sinister,†“hell,†“lost souls,†“Satan,†and “the damned†just indicates that she is looking to make more of a dramatic or visceral effect than a literal or logical one. The op-ed is written like an essay and contains no bullet points.
The Editorial Board of the New York Times
The tone of the New York Times piece is less dramatic and more informational, though it also adopts a pessimistic tone to convey the urgency of the situation—namely that the new President (Trump) must do something to save workers from Amazon’s takeover. The narrative is evidential, meaning that every claim or statement is supported by a fact—and the facts are given via hyperlinks, so the reader can click on the link and see where the authors of the op-ed have gotten their information. It is a very useful way to convey ethos: the authors’ assert their credibility by supplying so many links that surely the reader will agree that the piece is well-researched and full of facts that cannot be dismissed or argued.
The authors do not make use of metaphor except when they state that today’s workers need a “strong safety net†(Editorial Board)—they are referring to government assistance to keep them afloat during hard times as they look for new work, having lost their retail space jobs to e-commerce businesses. The article uses ethos to command its own credibility; it also uses logos by indicating that e-commerce will not put people out of work for long: there will always be new jobs to come along. The article states that what is needed is short-term assistance, which appeals to pathos and the emotional side of the reader who wants to help.
The structure of the editorial is simple: it begins with a depiction of the average worker and how jobs are being lost. It then discusses the impact that e-commerce has hand on retail. The argument is that while technology is not bad in and of itself, things are changing and that is causing a lot of workers to be un-employed for the moment. The argument is repeated throughout the piece. The writers assume the readers will be reading the article and agreeing with their logic and argument, clicking on links to see the supporting facts, and ending the piece with a feeling that they must put pressure on Trump to ensure that American workers are not left in the cold. The op-ed does not use colloquialisms or bullet points; the piece is fairly formal and direct.
Freedman of the WSJ
Freedman’s tone is upbeat and bright. He thinks the reading level of the audience is high and will appreciate wit, reason and logic. He writes at a quick clip; sentences vary in terms of length and structure, so the writing is interesting. Evidence is supplied by way of anecdotes and facts that are provided to support the analysis but there are no hyperlinks given or references for the reader to check. So unless we Google the facts ourselves, we must take the author’s word for it.
The author uses metaphors like “terms and conditions†(Freedman) to describe how retailers must adapt to the world that Amazon has changed (Amazon is in control and has stipulated the new terms for the other players). The writer uses ethos to establish his credentials early on making assertions that he backs up with quick one-two punches of facts. His use of logos is equally effective, as the entire piece is logical from start to finish and he uses pathos in a way that is surprising because the op-ed goes to an unexpected place—the fact that people are still people and e-commerce hasn’t changed that: all retailers have to do is work on provided consumers with an experience because people are still going to want to get out and socialize. There is not much evidence beyond this understanding of human nature to suggest that retailers can provide the types of experiences described in the piece, which is why the argument turn at the end is rooted more in pathos than in logos. Nonetheless, it is effective in dispelling the doom-and-gloom that appears in the other two op-eds already described above.
The structure of the piece is basic: it begins by announcing that the retail scare has been overblown—that Amazon is not going to put everyone out of business. It proceeds to suggest that retailers must simply adapt to the needs of the consumer. It explains how this can be accomplished. It uses colloquial phrases consistently like “cracking smiles†and “flipped the script†(Freedman). These make the piece easy and fun to read because they are sprinkled in with more factual statements—so there is a lot of variation.
Observations
There is clearly more than one way to write an op-ed about this subject. Each piece is different. The first is more dramatic; the second is more factual; the third is more forward-looking. None of them have the same tone, nor do any of them make use of the same evidence. Their structures are similar (all are short, start off by introducing a theme and build on that), and the language of each is basic enough that there are not too many differences here. Each piece makes different observations: the Koss piece acts like a dirge and is a lament for our lost humanity; the New York Times piece aims for the reader to want to hold Trump accountable (the real aim behind the op-ed); the WSJ piece is optimistic and embraces the changes brought about by Amazon, celebrating the innovation that retailers must adopt in order to provide consumers with the human experience they will still always pursue.
Most Persuasive
The most persuasive piece is the Freedman piece: it is upbeat, witty, and fun to read. It varies its sentence structure and approach by mixing facts with colloquialisms and taking a contrary position to the present crisis. It uses anecdotes and colorful imagery to ease the fears and concerns of the reader and provide a more uplifting sense of the future that is rooted ultimately in the facts.
Works Cited
Editorial Board, “As Retail Goes, So Goes the Nation.†New York Times, 21 Apr 2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/21/opinion/as-retail-goes-so-goes-the-nation.html?mcubz=3
Freedman, Daniel. “Bricks, Mortar—and Experiences.†Wall Street Journal, 20 Aug
2017. https://www.wsj.com/articles/bricks-mortarand-experiences-1503258657
Koss, Amy. “Amazon.com is a 21st century deal with the devil.†LA Times, 5 Jun 2017.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-koss-the-devil-as-amazon-20170604-story.html
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
