Running head: Rhetorical Analysis 1

Rhetorical Analysis

A brief illustrated history of machines and mechanisms

Iram D. Hernandez

The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1301

Dr. Vierra

September 25, 2019

Rhetorical Analysis 2

Abstract

There is an inverse relation between understanding the genre of a research topic, and the

time spent doing the research. By analyzing the audience and discovering how Aristotle’s forms

of appeal, which are ethos, pathos and logos, are used in the research, the genre, or genres, of the

research can be identified quicker and with much ease. In this study, the book “A brief illustrated

history of machines and mechanisms”, by Emiliano Bautista Paz, was used to analyze its

intended audience, how the author uses the rhetorical appeals ethos, pathos, and logos, and to

analyze how this form of research aid in the time spent on the research. After the research, it can

be concluded that understanding Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals, and the audience that the author

wants to approach, aids by minimizing the time spent in the research, and by identifying the

genre of the topic of research.

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Rhetorical Analysis

A Brief Illustrated History Of Machines and Mechanisms

by Iram Hernandez

Students regret wasting time by reading over many different articles that aren’t even related

to their research. This is usually caused by the lack of understanding of genre. There are usually

time constraints on academic research, and by diverging of the research students waste time.

Understanding the genre of academic research aids by focusing the analysis and shortening the

time taken.

Aristotle’s forms of appeal, which are ethos, pathos, and logos, have expanded thanks to

the modern ways to deliver a message. Killingsworth (2005) explains that Aristotle’s means of

persuasion have evolved since their previous analysis, and their definitions serve as a guide to

determine the new appealing methods (p. 251). Also, Killingsworth (2005) includes examples of

the modern form to deliver a message, such as Cinema releases, Journal articles, and advertising,

and mentions how technology is also involved in these forms of delivery. Based on the evidence,

it can be concluded that the traditional forms of appeal have developed and have been presented

in new mediums.

There is a lack of interest in the subject of Machines and Mechanisms, and a lack of

recognition towards the inventors that helped in the evolution of mechanical systems. According

to Bautista Paz (2010), the history of humanity is directly related to the history of technology (p.

xi). Likewise, Bautista (2010) claims that there is a lack of recognition for the inventors who

developed all the mechanisms that have evolved and become our modern-day technology (p. vi).

Based on this evidence, it can be concluded that there’s a need in the promotion of interest and

recognition of the scholars and inventors that aided in the progress of machinery.
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Discussion

Audience

Based on the vocabulary used and topics covered by the book, the author’s intended

audience can range from engineering majors and researcher, to historians interested in the

development of mechanisms across time. For example, Bautista Paz (2010) introduced the water

clock and some of its facts regarding in which year, and what civilization, introduced the

mechanism; however, he mainly focuses on how it operates and its development throughout time

(p. 45-47). Also, by focusing on the table of contents, we can see that each section mentions a

period of human history, and each sub-section is named after a mechanism or machine developed

in that time (p. ix-x). Therefore, it can be inferred that the author’s intended audience is mostly

historians and engineering majors.

Ethos

The author, Emiliano Bautista Paz, fills in all the requirements to be considered a

professional scholar. According to Europeana, Bautista Paz holds a Ph.D., a degree in Industrial

engineering, and the title as a professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Also, he is

currently a member of the IFToMM, or the International Federation for the Promotion of

Mechanism and Machine Science. According to Aristotle (2005), ethos focuses mainly on the

author’s reliability as a scholar, and the authority it establishes as a professional rhetor

(Killingsworth, 2005, p. 251-252). Based on the evidence, it can be determined that Bautista is a

reliable, and well-recognized, scholar.

Pathos

The author takes an overall clinical approach to the reader. Bautista (2010) focuses on just

the facts about the era certain machines were developed and details about the machines, such as
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their purpose and how they worked. However, he excludes any type of feeling the machine, or the

time, may invoke. For example, Bautista (2010) introduces the hunting machines used during

primitive times in East Africa, but he never tries to convey a feeling to the reader regarding the

machine and its purpose (p. 7). Aristotle (2005) explains that pathos is the appeal regarding the

audience’s emotions (Killingsworth, 2005, p. 251). However, Kinneavy (2005) expands on

Aristotle’s definition of pathos by including the idea that the position of the author and the audience

are going to differ by a few details, or throughout a certain amount of time (Killingsworth, 2005,

p. 252). Therefore, the author’s tries to approach the reader using mostly, if not all, a clinical point

of view.

Logos

The author’s main purpose is to get recognition for the people that were involved in the

development of machines, and the history of machines itself. Bautista (2010) claims that there is

low interest in the subject of machines and their history (p. vi). Also, the author explains that one

of the main purposes of the book was to explain the general history of machines and showing how

important it has been in relation to the development of the human society (p. 199). According to

Aristotle (2005), the logos appeal involves referencing to real life situations or examples, and to

establish his/her authority (Killingsworth, 2005, p. 251). Kinneavy (2005) adds to its definition by

explaining that logos serves as a guide for the audience to comprehend the topic in discussion

(Killingsworth, 2005, p. 252). Therefore, the main purpose of the author is to bring recognition to

everyone, and everything, involved in the history of mechanisms and machines.

Conclusion

It is important to understand genre when doing academic research. The genre establishes

expectations that will guide the research. This helps understand the main purpose of the author,
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shorten the time taken by the research, create new knowledge based on the different viewpoints,

and how he/she is using the rhetorical appeals. By not understanding the genre, the research may

take the wrong path, and time is wasted.

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References

Bautista Paz, E., Echévarri Otero, J., & Muñoz Sans, J. L. (2010). A brief illustrated history of

machines and mechanisms. (M. Ciccarelli, Ed.) (Vol. 10). Breinigsville, PA: Springer.

Europeana Foundation. (n.d.). Emilio Bautista Paz. Retrieved September 26, 2019, from

https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/2020801/dmglib_handler_image_29219023.h

tml.

Killingsworth, M. J. (2005). "Rhetorical Appeals: A Revision." Rhetoric Review 24, no. 3: 249-

263.