REHUGO analysis - reading

Tayler Wills

Mr. Soeth

English 3 AP

January 26, 2011

REHUGO Analysis – Reading “In Search of the Good Family”

1. “In Search of the Good Family” Written by: Jane Howard
2. Howard’s main idea is what Good families have that make them a family or ‘clan’ and how families help out in the community eventually extended their family through the community.
3. “Good families…” at the start of all paragraphs number 1-9. Howard has an idea in her head of what a ‘good family’ is, and by saying what ‘good families’ have, she is establishing logos. Most families do have a ‘chief’, ‘prized rituals’, ‘affection’, and the ideals in the other 6 paragraphs. Even if the chief isn't a man of the house, there is still someone who everyone turns to, the dominant one. “…not just the blood kind, find some way to connect with prosperity.” Howard used a little of pathos and ethos. Everyone considers their best friend to be like family right? We call each others parents mom and dad, and if we get in trouble often times we receive the same punishment, right? Most of our families are social enough to have those family friends that when we introduce them to others we say, “This is my cousin”, and just consider family and extend an invitation to family events such as Christmas dinner or a baptism. This allows other blood related family to begin to view them as family too.
4. Howard uses repetition through out her entire article, ‘Good families’, in the beginning ‘call it a clan, call it a network....’ and in the eighth paragraph she quotes the words “support system” at least three times. The repeating of ‘good families’ is to discuss what good families are. When she say ‘call it…’, she is comparing a family to a clan, a tribe, even a network because that is exactly what families are like. Tribes stick together, sometimes interacting with other tribes, later becoming brothers, but are always there for each other. When she repeatedly uses ‘support systems’ she is exerting that a family is there for support; as if your life is a play, you’re the lead actor and your family is your stage crew, some behind the scenes making sure everything goes as planned and some right on stage with you to help you with a stumbled line. Every family member plays an important role, which is why it can be compared to a tribe, or even a network; these groups do not function properly with out every one pulling their own weight.
5. Citation:

Lawrence Scanlon, Shea, Robin Dissin, Renee Hausmann. Aufses. The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing and Rhetoric. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. Print.