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Eli Tian Kristen Foster CO150.

401 16 December, 2013 Explanation of the Rhetorical Choices Weeks ago I heard about the New York City soda ban. Mr. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, is in favor of this ban. However, according to a poll, 64 percent would not support a ban on large sugary drinks in their own community, versus 36 percent who would favor capping the drinks at 16 ounce (Weinger). So it is very debatable and exigent. I personally hold a negative attitude towards this ban. So I write this public argument (An Open Letter to Mr. Bloomberg, New York City Mayor) to persuade the mayor to give it up. My purpose, as stated above, is to prevent this ban. Because when I learned about it, I think its a violation of freedom. As far as Im concerned, the government shouldnt tell the people to stop drink big size soda. The ban is an outreach of government power. So I choose to argue Mr. Bloomberg to give it up. My claim is: the ban wont help to solve the problem. Educating people to form healthier lifestyles are more effective than solely banning big size soda. My first reason is that people can buy two small size soda rather than a big one. The second reason is that the ban is an outreach of government power so that it wont be passed by The Court of Appeals. The evidence to support my claim and the first reason is an example which will happen if the ban comes into being. The evidence to support my claim and the second reason is truth that has happened. My intended audience is Mr. Bloomberg, the proposer and supporter of the ban. If I convince him to give it up, this debatable ban could be stopped. So I choose him as the intended

audience. I know he cares a lot about public health. He wants American people to form healthier ways of life. So I suggest him another way to achieve his purpose, which is to educate people. I would like to publish it on a newspaper. If I can, the New York Times must be the best choice. Because it is not only popular in New York City but also around the United States. The paper's print version remains the largest local metropolitan newspaper in the United States and third-largest newspaper overall. Its website is one of America's most popular news sites - and most popular among all the nation's newspapers - receiving more than 30 million unique visitors per month (Wikipedia). So my open letter will receive more attention. This will increase the possibility that my letter be read by my intended audience. Also, it will help me to achieve my purpose, which is, persuading Mr. Bloomberg to give up the soda ban. I choose to present my information in an open letter to a specific person. The convention is the same as a letter. I need to write as concise as possible so that the reader are more willing to read it. The organization and development should be logical and easy to fellow. The length should be as short as possible. The language should be polite and convincible. I think I have met these convention well. I think my public argument are not as convincible as my academic argument. Because it is an open letter, I cant include much detail. Also, the language needs to be as polite as possible. These decrease the persuasion.

Work Cited Mackenzie Weinger. Poll: Majority oppose New York City soda ban. POLITICO. 08 June 2012. Web. 10 November, 2013. The New York Times Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 13 December 2013. Web. 15 December 2013.