The section on How to make the audience attentive and receptive is intriguing because I have a situation going on in my life right now that relates to it. I am having an issue completing my masters degree because Shippensburg University is not offering the courses that are required for graduation. This is my fourth year in the Curriculum and Instruction program with an emphasis in English. The program requires four 500 level English courses. In the past years that I have been a student in this program, there has been one 500 level English course offered. It began the week that I got married and was on my honeymoon, so obviously that class was not an option. I can transfer 3 courses from another university, so I still need that one 500 level course from Shippensburg. I have been sending emails to the head of the English department for about 2 years now. This is should have made more of an impact than it actually did. I was simply told that they were trying their best to offer these courses. Oh, and at one point I was told that I was a really nice girl and they are sorry to hear about my situation. Who cares? This does not help me obtain a degree. Do not offer a degree in a program that you do not offer the classes to match the requirements! When I realized that Ship was once again not going to offer a required course this spring, I decided that something else needed to be done. According the authors, “Rhetors should tie their claim to something that the audience will think important or interesting” (300). This was not getting through to the English department, so I took my issue to the Dean. This issue should be important to the dean and if it matters to the dean, then it should definitely matter to the English department. I’ve also learned to add multiple people to the emails (the dean, the education department chair, the English department chair, and my advisor). For some reason, I found that these people are more efficient when I am contacting more than one at a time. I was securing goodwill in hopes that the audience would be more receptive to my wants. According to Cicero, “goodwill is to be had from four quarters” from our own person, from the person of the opponents, from the persons of the jury, and from the case itself” (qtd. 300). I am trying to reach all levels in order to establish that goodwill from all angles. Here is my latest idea. I would like to establish an independent study with a professor, or take a 400 level course that is being offered and complete additional assignments to make it worth a 500 level. Well, I presented both ideas to the dean who thought they would work and told me to present them to my advisor. The independent study was shot down and I was told that they would not change the number of a course and should petition to have an additional 400 level course count in the place of a 500 level. My advisor wrote the petition and definitely played on ethos. He mentioned that I am a “working public school teacher” and the need to complete my degree in a timely manner. He sent that information today, so this conversation will have to be continued.
Another example that I found interesting that shows the importance to having/creating a receptive audience is the Bin Laden book example found on page 302. The author, Robinson, manages to make the audience feel sympathetic towards the family of the most wanted man in the world. This parallels in a fictional setting. Author, Jodi Picoult, manages to gather sympathy for a school shooter in the novel 19 Minutes. Generally the public is not sympathetic towards a student who chooses to open fire in a high school killing and injuring many students. However, Picoult delves into the years leading up to this massacre; the years of bullying and the ignorance and denial of the teachers and adults in the shooter’s life. The author manages to make his appear as both the person at fault as well as the victim. It is a difficult task. Overall, if the audience cannot be touched or reached in one way or another, the task at hand will not be successful.