Sharena Kaur

Mr. Soeth

English 3 AP

January 26, 2011

REHUGO Analysis- Essay

A.“In Search of the Good Family” – author: Jane Howard

B.In the essay, the author, Howard states that families are an important part of human nature; everyone needs someone to care of them and to care for, people need others to go to share their pain and happiness to, and at the end of the day, no matter how hard life hits someone, they always have a family who will support them. Family cannot be compared to friendship because a family lasts forever whereas friendship can end and begin any day or anytime.

C.Evidence:

1.Howard brings logos into play when she compares a family to a struggling tribes and clans. Instead of helping one another, in clans and tribes, people watch others make mistakes and meddle into their business. Families, on the other hand, help one another and rush to visit the other whether they are across the country or overseas. By pointing out the necessity of having a family there with you, Howard establishes logos. It is important to have your family by your side because they help you and understand your position of need.

2.In her argument, Howard also employs pathos when she begins to mention how when lonely, a family can come to good use. For example, in the essay, Howard mentions her conversation with a friend, Helen, who said “it gets harder and harder with the passing of time. It’s stressful. That’s why you need support systems.” This establishes pathos because the audience can relate to it with a similar situation that they or a family member has experienced. A support system is needed if a person goes bankrupt, loses the ability to live on their own, or just feels lonesome. She mentions that during birthdays and other occasions, family gathers around to celebrate for one another and then she leads onto how a celebration wouldn’t be the same without family. Another example of pathos in the essay is when Howard mentions God. By doing so, she ties in religion which catches a reader’s attention and appeals to the audience’s emotionally. This establishes pathos because the audience can think back to their family celebrations and events. Howard uses pathos because the audience most likely has a family who they can refer to when reading the essay.

D.Rhetorical Strategies:

1.In the essay, Howard uses classification and division when she creates a list of necessities in a good family. By classifying the obligations of having and maintaining a good family, Howard helps the reader think back to what they have compared to what is mentioned in the essay. In the beginning of each point Howard uses “good families have…” By doing so she sets up the example of an ideal family for the reader to visualize. Organizing the information into sections helps the reader organize their thoughts. Howard also embeds exemplifications in her points about the ideal family structure and life. She uses examples on what role a person has in the family and how each role is important in the family structure.

2.Another rhetorical strategy used by Howard is comparing and contrasting. Throughout the essay, Howard compares and contrasts a family to tribes, clans, Unitarians, and other families. For example, Howard states, “the trouble with clans and tribes many of us were born into is not that they consist of meddlesome ogres but that they are too far away.” She uses this comparison because it gives the audience something to visualize while reading about the family life and how it is similar yet different from the tribal society.

E.MLA Citation:
Shea, Renée Hausmann., Lawrence Scanlon, and Robin Dissin. Aufses. "In Search of the Good Family." The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing and Rhetoric. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. Print.