Rhetorical Essay: Shame is Worth a Try Essay

Dan M. Kahans Shame is charge a Try was first published in the capital of Massachusetts ball on August 5, 2001. In this turn up, Kahan contends that the habit of put down as a penalty of low level crimes is non only powerful, but is an economical and humane substitute(a) to imprisonment. Its difficult to ascertain who Kahans intend audience is. However, beca spend he uses examples of dishonour beingness used as an alternative sanction around the coun screen Drive d chipk in Florida or Texas, and you power be required to place a conspicuous DUI bumper toughie on your car (Kahan 574) I would venture to say that the public at large is whom he is possibly targeting. This is move on reinforced by the fact that the root chose to at least initially publish the term in the Boston Globe, a local Massachusetts newspaper. Kahan competently uses contrast and likeness throughout his sample to illuminate a subject that otherwise might be ignored. Nevertheless he ultimately falls short of being convincing, mainly, due to his lack of usage, of relevant facts and figures. Kahan opens his essay with the basic move is shame an appropriate criminal punishment? (574).He then explores examples of its use in various jurisdictions. Refuse to make your child-support payments in Virginia, and you will find that your fomite has been immobilized with an appropriate colored boot (Kahan 575). Immediately after grabbing the referees attention with examples, Kahan presents a contrasting view signify. Many experts, however, are skeptical of these new shaming punishments. Some motility their effectiveness as a deterrent(Kahan 575). This further elicits the readers curiosity, bringing them to the warmheartedness of the issue. The author eloquently asks the question, Who is right? (575). He then goes on to use a logos style exploration, of both sides of the issue. Kahans main outcry is that propvirtuosonts dont get that shame, can be as effective as prison, at a lower overa ll cost to society. Kahan further argues and finishes strongly with the statement that the overall question shouldnt be is shame a proper punishment, but how do we employ its use properly? The author does an admirable job of grabbing the readers attention right from the bring by giving beguileing, and relevant examples of how shame has been employed around the country. ie DUIs in Texas, child-support in Virginia.Moreover, his use of logos styled arguments throughout the article does an excellent job of articulating his viewpoint while keeping the reader engaged. Kahan gains the readers applaud by presenting fountainhead reasoned and intelligent viewpoints in such a way that its actually hard to find any event fault with his assertions. The authors choice to present an opposing view right from the start, although non as effective as it could have been, was an apropos way to modify his stance. In moving forward, Kahan counterbalances some opponents by making it perfectly lighth eaded that his stance for shame based penalties applies to minor infractions of the law only . at that places obviously no alternative to imprisonment for murderers, rapists, and other raging criminals (Kahan 575). By using examples of these shame based penalties from around the country, the author similarly makes it appear to the reader that he is knowledgeable in matters concerning our unlessice system. His strongest point though comes at the end of his article when he simply asks the question Why not at least give it a try? (Kahan 576).This seems to beg an additional question, since our veritable system is overloaded why not try a different approach? Kahans major downfall in this article is his insufficient use of relevant facts and figures. Although the author does reference one particular study by Harold Grasmick that shows public disgrace exerts greater hale to comply with the law than the threat of imprisonment and other formal punishments. (Kahan 576). general it lack s the kind of hard figures it would take statistically to reinforce his claim. If the author had chosen to include some statistics on say, the effectiveness of alternative sanctions, or showed a cost analysis on prison sentences. He would have constituted a sense of trustworthiness with his reader. Unfortunately, due to the lack of those types of hard figures his essay lacks credibility. That lack of credibility, leaves the reader to wonder, just how knowledgeable is this author with this subject? If Kahan had just chosen to tell us a little about himself and his background, he could have very well hit a home run in the credibility department. He does after all have an exceptionally distinguished law career. Unfortunately, he fails to do so, thus leaving the reader with too many unanswered questions.The last major complaint of this essay is a complete lack of pathos style writing. Overcrowding, as well as, the shear number of offenders in our criminal justice system whole is stag gering. This hot button topic could have easily been used to draw out up some sense and passion in his argument. In this way, the author would have essentially legitimized his stance, as well as, inspired his readers to take action. For some(prenominal) reason though, the author chose to ignore this completely, and as such completely fails in winning over his audience. In the writing of this essay, Kahan addresses an important topic of our times.Our current criminal justice system is overloaded and wrought with problems, and addressing how to punish superficial crimes is certainly relevant. Yet his article, despite illuminating this controversial and important subject, fails in delivering the facts needed to inspire any sort of change. Kahan does an admirable job of creating interest in a topic many might otherwise ignore. However, he ultimately falls flat in the execution and leaves the reader floundering, quite a than informed. As a last note, Khans writing style might no t always include the use of pathos. Unfortunately for him his lack of appeal to emotion in this particular essay will render it ultimately unmemorable.Works CitedKahan, Dan M. Shame is Worth a Try Models for Writers. Ed. Rosa Eschholz. Boston * New York Bedford/St. Martins, January 2012. 574-578 Print