In paragraph four of Anna Quindlen's "Quilt of a Country," she primarily employs inquiries, repeating the phrase "What is the point" at the beginning of each question. This repetition is intended to emphasize her argument that, despite the diverse cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds that comprise the American populace, these differences do not suffice to fragment the nation, unlike what has occurred in other countries.
Levitt and Dubner, the authors of the influential book "Freakonomics," argue that students have always felt compelled to cheat to achieve better grades, which in turn can lead to improved social status. Additionally, teachers started to engage in cheating as they, too, faced pressures related to their students' performance, with their employment sometimes hinging on student success. For instance, in Chicago, a school was nearing closure due to poor grades, prompting teachers to resort to dishonest practices to retain their jobs. While this behavior did arise from incentives, Levitt and Dubner's findings suggest that only around 5% of teachers engage in cheating, with honesty prevailing among the majority. A similar trend is observed with sumo wrestlers, who often cheat in response to dissatisfaction with their low incomes.
C.
The speaker begins by introducing herself, allowing the audience to quickly grasp the personal significance of the topic. When audiences recognize the speaker's personal investment in the matter, they are more likely to engage. The introduction also employs an example of pathos, which is an emotional appeal effective for capturing audience interest.
It’s beneficial to refrain from overwhelming the audience with statistics or other researchers' names at the start (although such elements will be utilized in the speech) as this may lend an overly formal or factual tone before they become engaged.
