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Dear Reader,

During this assignment, I was challenged to analyze the rhetorical strategies that were

utilized in certain genres, in this case news articles and blog posts, instead of focusing on the

intent of these pieces. In doing so, I discovered that the type of genre is the essential foundation

of a piece. For example, news articles are objectively informative thus the authors choice in

diction, tone, and presentation differentiates drastically than blog posts. Blog posts, however, are

usually utilized to advocate a purpose, and therefore are heavily reliant on making people feel

inclined to become a part of them. Consequently, blog posts are more personal and emotional

while still maintains a formal tone to assert the validity of their purpose. In understanding these

rhetorical values, the intent or purpose of their pieces have become significantly more effective.

The most trouble I had was understanding how to connect the rhetorical strategy and

information together. Not only did I have to ask myself what the relevance of the information

was, I had to wonder why each detail was placed where it was and what was the authors purpose

in placing it there. How does it affect the readers initial thought and how does it affect the

readers overall thought after they had finished reading the piece? Now, how does the

organization of detail and the actual detail enhance each other? These questions were difficult to

think about but even more so difficult to draw relations to. It challenged my ability to analyze as

reader then dictate my thoughts as a writer. However, in the end I realized that doing both

enhanced my understanding as reader because now I could understand the pieces from a writers

point of view instead of just a readers.

My topic had been the Syrian Refugee Crisis which is one of the major ongoing

worldwide events to this day. Before this assignment, I was only aware of the superficial details

surrounding this calamity, but even then, knew little to no detail. In researching, my initial
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thought had been, Wow this has been going on for quite some time (since 2011). However, I

realized that because this had been so fresh to me, that it helped me understand the authors

pieces even better. For example, I understood that news article authors included graphics because

it displayed how much the situation has grown and greatly intensifies the shocking aspect to the

reader. As for blog posts, they include heavy statistics and/or anecdotes to depict the outcome

this event has caused. This then propelled me to make connections between organization and

detail more rapidly and fluidly.

Overall, this essay was challenging for me. It required me to really utilize my analytic

skills more beneficially and effectively. However, it taught me that understanding a piece of

written work from the writers perspective can help you understand what the purpose is as a

reader. Not only did I learn to identify the writers tactics, I learned to connect them to the

information or purpose they were intending for me to understand. Furthermore, this assignment

has really helped me understand the importance of different genres that exist to inform audiences

in all different types of ways.

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Kashia Thao
Writing 2 WP1
7 April 2017

The Importance of Syria

According to the official Syrian Refugees website, around 11 million Syrian refugees

have fled Syria in search for safety within other nations (Timline). This spiraling tragedy has led

to increased worldwide tensions that have placed the Syrian Refugees Crisis as the center stage

of nationwide news. The escalation of this continuous tragedy has led to the development of

various informational outlets that exist to educate readers in their own ways as the calamity

unfolds. In particular, news articles and blog posts effectively detail the information of the crisis

while achieving their own goals. Whereas news articles utilize various tactics that successfully

inform and, surprisingly, perpetuate a heightened seriousness regarding these events, blog

posts heavily rely on emotion that evoke empathy among readers to propel, as well as, encourage

readers to become involved in their intended purpose.

News articles, the first genre discussed here, are primarily informative sources that exist

to educate readers concerning ongoing events. Authors of news articles often include a brief

background that prep the reader with the right knowledge which contributes to the current event.

In an article by Somini Sengupta, a foreign correspondent for the New York Times, Sengupta

swiftly begins describing the massive plight of Syrian refugees over the past four years. In

utilizing this detail, she fluidly transitions into the main discussion of the article in which

discusses the United Nations fear that amongst refugees, Islamic State fighters may also be

entering developed nations to carryout terrorist activity. Likewise, Jethro Mullen, a CNN News

Desk Editor, utilizes information regarding the lack of safety in Syria for civilians due to

decreased health response treatment and destructive civil war to prompt his discussion on the
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effects of refugee movement among other countries. The background in both these articles

smoothly guides the audience into the information while preventing confusion. If the author were

to neglect the background, it would significantly disrupt the audiences understanding of the

articles purpose. For example, if Sengputa were to immediately introduce the United Nations

fear of Islamic state fighters entering countries under low authorization, readers may not

understand why they are worried. However, by emphasizing that there is a tremendous inflow of

Syrian immigrants entering different nations, the reader is better able to understand that the

tremendous inflow could camouflage these worrisome individuals. Therefore, the inclusion of

background is vital for news articles because it provides readers with a stronger foundation in

understanding the informative purpose of the article.

After the background, authors then begin to engage readers in the information in an

educative way while relying on the readers assumption that the article is unbiased due to the

journalistic presentation. News articles tend to sustain a formal and concise tone that most

effectively delivers the information. Sengputa states, Last week the European Union forced

through a plan, over the bitter objections of some of its nations, to distribute 120,000 asylum

seekers among member states. The use of logos, which is primarily used to present facts, is

indicative that the article is heavily objective and presented without bias. Continuing with this

formality, news article authors typically utilize ethos such as in Mullens piece, Syria is

haemorrhaging women, children and men who cross borders often with little more than the

clothes on their backs, the UNHCR said. The inclusion of ethos institutes and sustains the

articles credibility because it strengthens the objectivity of the article thus concluding in its

validity. To reassert the credibility of the discussion, authors add graphics to further the

audiences visual experience in which they can better understand the statistics employed by the
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author. In Sengputas article she includes a graphic detailing how the European nations plan on

splitting the refugees amongst their countries. Likewise, Mullen integrates a graphic depicting

the surge of Syrian refugees into major countries as shown below (Almukhtar).

Essentially, in specifying tone and including authoritative statements as well as graphics, the

author engages the reader in the information, but furthermore helps the reader to understand the

educational purpose and value of the article as it draws attention to ongoing worldwide events

that affect our everyday life.

Contrary to news articles, blog posts are typically formulated to evoke emotion within the

reader to encourage involvement in their cause. This also indicates that the readers expect a bias

because blog posts ensue more intimate and personal connections. In his blog post, Daryl

Grisgraber pays close attention to the organization of details. For example, he firstly begins by

introducing the fact that the Mercy Corps is being forced to shut down its organization in Turkey

because of the lack of funds. By placing this as his first explanation, he already presents the issue

that is intended for the audience to grasp. Secondly, he continues to explain the remarkable

assistance the Mercy Corps have provided Syrian civilians in which glorifies the existence of the

group by highlighting considerable efforts it is willing to make for the sake of simple

humanitarian deeds. After elaborating on the effectiveness of the group, Grisgraber begins to
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take a more personal approach such as, Though we tend not to hear as much about local Syrian

groups as we do about the larger agencies, it is high time we began to realize that so many of the

lives saved inside Syria were saved because local groups risked their lives to reach people. In

utilizing these specific words, Grisgraber takes advantage of pathos, in which evokes sympathy,

by targeting our personal ignorance. Finally, he effectively promotes his cause by giving various

of reasons as to why the existence of the Mercy Corps is vital. In carefully considering the

organization of details, authors are able to distinctively engage their audiences in their

discussion. Then they condition the reader to feel as if their involvement is significant which is

finalized with additional details that secures the readers choice in involvement by reasserting the

validity of the cause.

In another blog post by Sadhbh Goodhue, organization as well as emotion are

successfully combined to further promote the existence of Syrian aid groups such as hers,

Concern. Immediately from the title, Shatterd Lives: protecting civilians in war-torn Syria

Goodhue already establishes a dejected and melancholic tone that is indicative of the emotions

that will be projected. Goodhue supports the despondency of the title with a bolded statement

from a Syrian woman who suffered the tragedies of the civil war, We were scared. I asked him

to go see what was happening outside on the street, (Sameh in Goodhue). The ambiguity of her

statements stimulates fear in the reader that is furthered by despair as the women continues to

explain that her husband had been killed out of nowhere, (Sameh in Goodhue). In starting her

piece with this narrative, Goodhue establishes a personal connection from the woman to the

reader that invokes contemplative reflection meaning that thoughts such as, What if this

happened to me? or, What would I do if I were in her position? would arise. This effectively

ties the readers attention into the blog posts which allows Goodhue to inform the audience on
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the impact of the Syrian civil war on civilians still within the Syrian border. Like Grisgraber,

Goodhue then institutes an issue that requires the readers involvement, Over thirteen million

are in need of humanitarian assistance, with five million of these in besieged or hard-to-reach

areas. Immediately after, Goodhue stimulates more emotion, Recently, someone provided us

with enough money to purchase winter clothes for all the children, for example. But I am always

afraid that the help will stop. How will I manage then? (Sameh in Goodhue). This statement

kindles and heightens a sense of desperation and hopelessness that elicits compassion among

readers. However, these intended emotions are dramatically transformed as she then includes

another bolded statement highlighting the success of Concern such as, When first arrived,

Concern provided food baskets for us and also registered us to receive food vouchers. We were

so thankful (Sameh in Goodhue). Goodhue successfully finalizes the purpose of her article in

which was to promote the existence of her affiliated Syrian aid group for the sake of Syrian

civilians. Goodhue significantly displays how the use of structure is vital in provoking emotion

because without a strong structure the reader would fail to grasp the concept and the purpose of

the blog post. They may understand the emotion, but may also disregard why that they are

feeling is important.

With the use of the Syrian Refugee Crisis, the tactics that news articles and blog posts

use become more apparent. News articles about the crisis depict how their objectivity is

maintained for the sole purpose of educating the reader about the escalation that is occurring on a

national and humane level. Blog posts then extract specific pieces of information, such as the

wellbeing of Syrian civilians, to encourage readers to become personally involved in the issue. In

doing so, they successfully do their jobs in reporting and inciting historically changing

worldwide events.
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Works Cited
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Almukhtar, Gregor Aisch and Sarah. "Seeking a Fair Distribution of Migrants in Europe." The New York

Times. The New York Times, 04 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Goodhue, Sadhbh. "News and Blog." Shattered Lives: Protecting Civilians in War-torn Syria. Concern

Worldwide, 8 Mar. 2017. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Grisgraber, Daryl. "Support Local Syrian Aid Groups. They Are Saving Lives." Refugees International.

Refugees International, 14 Mar. 2017. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Mullen, Jethro. "Number of Syrian Refugees Rises above 2 Million, U.N. Agency Says." CNN. Cable

News Network, 04 Sept. 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Sengupta, Somini. "Refugee Crisis in Europe Prompts Western Engagement in Syria." The New York

Times. The New York Times, 30 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

"Timeline." Syrian Refugees. Syrian Refugees, 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.