Close Reading 1

Many times we come across articles that attempt to persuade us one way or another, and the way that these articles are written greatly effects the outcome of the persuasion. For instance, Seth Mullins wrote "An Argument Against Television for Children"which proves the idea of how effective a piece can be. The diction, imagery, and syntax helps Mullins persuade the reader about the effects of television.

Mullins uses precise diction that is appropriate for his audience, which, in this case, are parents of young children. He describes the television as "a world they cannot enter, and where their action and initiative make no difference", which suggests to parents that television is not good for children's growth. The use of the words "action" and "initiative", or the lack there of, may be concerning to parents and keep then engaged in the article. Also, Mullins makes the television into  a new "world"for the kids, and this effect makes parents wonder what world their children are in, which can also create worry. The word choice in just this one sentence helps the work seem even more engaging.

The use of imagery in this argument is, also, prominent. Mullins is attempting to get parents to think about what it is their children are thinking and imagining. He claims that the television "exacts a dear cost to their budding imaginations and sense of initiative." The phrase "budding imagination" creates that image of the child's growth and development. A parent may hear that and automatically picture the child's well-being. Parents need to make sure that they give their children the best environment for growth, and Mullins pulls in the imagery to help parents connect the dots.

The syntax in this piece is helpful in describing the situation at hand, and making the facts as specific as possible. Syntax simply refers to the sentence structures and format of the article. For instance, Mullins uses a variety of sentence structures. This keeps the piece interesting and helps make the material have better clarity. He states, "There are, no doubt, many television programs available-especially if one has cable-that are educational in nature." This one sentence uses the phrase "no doubt" to make his argument more factual, which also makes it more believable. He, also, uses a dash to represent an interruption of thought, creating more description. The syntax of a piece of writing adds clarity to the text and allows the reader to better understand what is being said.

Diction, imagery, and syntax are quite useful while writing a piece, but detail and language are also important. All together, these structures are helpful to engage readers into the text, and in the case of this article, to persuade.

http://articles.familylobby.com/287-an-argument-against-television-for-children.htm