Analysis of Argument assignment
Rhetorical Context:
When was this article written?
Where was it published and what kind of publication is this? [popular , academic, professional, etc]
Is this a reliable source?
What do we know about the author?
Who is the intended audience?
What is the purpose of this text?
What is the key argument the article is making? State it concisely and briefly.
What kind of claim is this, and what kinds of appeals are used?
How is the argument supported? What kind of evidence is provided?
What is your reaction to the points made in this article?
What do you find most interesting about this article?
Do you think the points made in it are valid?
Do you
find the approach and presentation effective?
Are the points made in it persuasive? Which are most persuasive?
Which points or evidence are not persuasive? [be specific]
What is your own opinion about the issue as presented in this text?
How would you agree or disagree with the author?
ANSWER
Analysis of Argument Assignment
The article on God of the shoplifters by D. L. Mayfield was written on 6th May 2020. The article was published by the Christian Century and is a popular publication with language that can be understood easily by the general audience. The article is an expert on D. L. Mayfield’s book “The Myth of American Dream” but in the print edition appears under the title “God of the Shoplifters”. The book by D.L. Mayfield is a reliable source that focuses on the myth of the American dream regarding power, safety, autonomy, and affluence as the major values in the American dream. The author asks the readers to pay attention to how these values have shaped the way of life, choices, and how they affect society. D. L. Mayfield is an aggressive truth-teller and an activist who has spent years working in the refugee communities. May field is interested in writing about theology, refugees, downward mobility among other subjects.
The article focuses on Christians who Mayfield feels are often blind to what God sees. The purpose of this text is to offer a wake-up call to the audience who have been blind to some of the things happening in the world. For instance, people have accepted inequality and contributed to it (Daniel, 36). Penalizing shoplifters but failing to criticize the business owners that earn thirty times more than their employees means that people only have eyes for certain wrongdoings.
The main argument is that people have been blind to certain wrongdoings and focused only on others. There is a high level of inequality in the world where some people seem to be more important than others. For instance, the immorality of the poor has been talked about but the wealthy are less talked about (Daniel, 36). Mayfield calls upon Christians to reflect loving neighbors that experience poverty and rather than losing themselves in inequality and buying a better world.
The article has relied on factual claims. Ideally, the assertion that people are often blind to see what God sees has existed over the years. For instance, people have failed to confront inequality but contributed to it making it harder for those struggling to survive. Mayfield has relied on ethos, pathos, and logos to speak on the subject. The argument has been supported by reasons, claims, and evidence that have created a potentially arguable article rather than mere assertions. For instance, real-life examples and bible quotes have been used separately to effectively build support for a claim.
The article has compelling arguments on the things that individuals are often blind to see and are very much on purpose to pinpoint others. This article has effectively shown how people are accepting inequality and contributing to each through failing to love and care for the less fortunate. The most interesting fact about this article is how the author talks about the God who sees as the God of the shoplifters. He compares the shoplifters to owners of businesses who are making thirty times more than the workers (Daniel, 36). The points made in this article are essential and valid since they have facts and evidence which make the sound and compelling. The approach and presentation were effective since the article has kept the structure simple ensuring that the presentation has led the audience through ideas. Considerably, in this article, the audience is listening rather than reading which has enabled them to understand the argument.
The points in the article are persuasive as they bring about the ideas of inequality and acting blind about certain things than others. The most persuasive point was that people are accepting inequality and contributing to it. The point that was not persuasive was on the fact that affluence has convinced people to forget God and take pride in their abilities and choices (Daniel, 35). However, affluence has not convinced people to forget God since God is the provider of everything. Inequality has been accepted as a by-product of the free market which means people are contributing to inequality knowingly. The world is rewarding the wrongdoers and making life harder for those struggling to survive. I agree that we are often blind to what God sees since we have neglected to focus on what is right and just.
Works Cited
Daniel Mayfield. “God of the shoplifters.” (2020): 34-36. Available at: file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/god%20of%20the%20shoplifters.pdf
