Rhetorical Analysis #2

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=103&sid=0d6ad56a-4033-498a-8b4e-6627a3b2636f%40sessionmgr109&bdata=JmxvZ2lucGFnZT1Mb2dpbi5hc3Amc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZl#db=hch&AN=11301471

Although this article essentially disagrees with what I want to argue, (that sports are healthy for women), it is important to see both sides of the issue and this article particularly caught my eye. The article comes from a science journal so it uses cold, hard facts to prove it’s point. This article is written in a grand style, as indicated by Engagements with Rhetoric. It uses scientific terms, such as amenorrhea and osteoporosis to explain negative impacts that sports have on girls. These terms indicate a sophisticated style of language and that the article is written for a well-educated audience, particularly orthopaedic nurses. The article uses statistical analysis as solid facts to persuade readers.

            This text focuses mainly on the logos appeal. It is filled with facts, both historical and statistical, that make people stop to think. For example, the article states that the number of female athletes increased from 294,000 to 2.6 million in 1997 after Title IX was implemented.  It was also shocking to see the statistics that 32% of college females athletes are reported to have some sort of eating disorder. These facts and statistics draw the reader in and make them curious to know more information. There is a slight degree of pathos used in the conclusion of this article. The article focuses on how negative sports are on females and then it suddenly switches to speak about how it can be fixed with the help of orthopaedic professionals. It says that it is their job to screen and help female athletes with these diseases. It uses the emotional appeal that the audience can help girls cope with and avoid these problems.

            This article uses the five stasis to persuade the audience. It defines such terms as amenorrhea and osteoporosis, as well as giving examples of eating disorders. The article states that sports are the cause of all of these problems in women. It evaluates that these causes are bad and have a negative impact on women’s bodies. The action they believe should be taken is that of orthopaedic doctors and nurses who should be well prepared to deal with this increasingly more popular problem. The jurisdiction in this piece is tricky because the article supports Title IX and that women deserve equal opportunities; however, it indirectly cautions that Title IX could be causing women to be more susceptible to eating disorders.