Did My Car Join Al Qaeda?

Persuasive Paper

Woody Hochswender essay, “Did My Car Join Al Qaeda?” was very persuasive because he supported his point of view. Hochswender really applied a lot of emotional appeal (pathos) to his writing. When he started off he went straight to the heart to ask, “Does that mean I am a bad person” (pg.154) because he drove a SUV. He was not asking that question sarcastically but figuratively. So that it would catch our attention. Hochswender shows great ethical appeal (ethos) when he states” Those who implicate Americans -- particularly our adventurous habits, offbeat choices and breathtaking freedoms, including the freedom to drive to a poetry reading followed by dinner at a French restaurant in the midst of a raging snowstorm -- validate the terrorists as essentially right.” He felt this was a backdoor way of blaming America for Sept. 11 and other crimes. This strengthens the argument that being the owner of a SUV does not make you an enemy. Nor does being the driver of a SUV in any way shows that you agree to 9-11 or terrorist-related activities. In addition, the author appeals with reason (logos). He explains in New York they had 70 inches of snow last winter. When the snow melted it would re-freeze into black ice, making things worse. Anyone having to live under these conditions would justify why it’s more than necessary to own a SUV. Personally I agree, as I too own a Suv. I also feel they are safer, because my husband could have died in the car accident. If he had not been driving and SUV. He may have been killed. I Thank God!! I Choice to buy it. Most people are very sensitive when it comes to the needs and safety for their family, Hochswender did just that by appealing to that emotion.

Bibliography

Gilbert H. Muller and Harvey S. Wiener - 2nd ed., “TO THE POINT: Reading and Writing Short Arguments”. (Pearson Education, Inc. 2009