R.W.S. Homework 9.10.18


What did you think of Rifkin’s argument, or find most interesting about it?Read the “starter template for discussing claims” on page 73 (reader). Use this template to write about two of Rifkin’s main claims.

  • Rifkin utilizes making strategic choices in order to give the audience a look at both sides of the issue, he paints the picture of the knowledge only recently obtained that animals do in fact experiment many of the same emotions as people, and then poses the question, what do we do with this information? should we reevaluate how we treat animals in scientific testing and meat industries? should animals be treated the same as humans in every situation due to the fact that it is proven that they have self-awareness? he poses these and other questions to prompt the audience to think and reflect on his claims about the research done proving animals experiment many of the same emotions as us humans do.

In a separate paragraph describe some of the main kinds of evidence used to support these claims. Discuss two strategies Rifkin uses to persuade his audience.

  • Rifkin uses scientifically backed evidence to support his claims, citing experiments and their results. he uses experimental results such as “the government is encouraging pig farmers to give each pig 20 seconds of human contact each day and to provide them with toys to prevent them from fighting. ” (Rifkin). He utilizes these scientific experiments and their results in order to create a solid and irrefutable argument regarding the topic being discussed in his article.

Read Parry’s “Branding a Condition.” What is Parry’s overall argument?

  • Parry’s overall argument is that you can more effectively market a medicine if you change the name of certain conditions, either to sound less emasculation with afflictions such as erectile dysfunction, or other diseases in order to reach a bigger market of people and therefore sell more of the product.

What did you find most interesting/useful about this text?

That Parry was able to bridge the connection between how certain diseases “sound”  and whether or not people will buy them simply based on the name of the condition, and what a large effect this has on the pharmaceutical industry.

What does Parry’s argument suggest about the way advertisers and marketers try to persuade audiences?

Parry suggests that advertisers use language and diction, as well as word association in order to market certain products to a wider audience. for instance, men feel is emasculates them to hear the term “erectile dysfunction” and they may not want to walk into a pharmacy and purchase a product with the name “erectile dysfunction” in the title. but changing the name of the same medicine to “Viagra” with word association such as “vigor” and “vitality”, makes men more likely to being open to buying the product.

Have you seen or heard of any similar methods of persuading people?

I have read articles where the word choice and association has had a large impact on how the reader perceives the article, such as “casualties” and “collateral damage” in news stories can greatly sway the way a reader interprets the story, and gives the story a bias due to the word choice and how the author wants the audience to perceive his/her writing.


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