Cal Poly RSS

John Swanson’s “Don’t Fight the Crime if You’re Going to Sling Grime” engages the reader immediately with a clever title and slightly surprising—but technically accurate— confession. Consider how the introduction seamlessly combines ethos, pathos and logos. Swanson’s argument offers as evidence dramatic, pathos-laden examples. Has the writer also performed sufficiently extensive research to balance emotional appeals with ample statistical data? He connects this abundant support to his argumentative purpose with clear, logical explanations given in a confident, journalistic style. Quotations are smoothly incorporated via signal phrases into the writer’s own sentences and paragraphs: Swanson does not allow the sources to argue his point for him. The topic of media piracy is complex, entailing plenty of room for debate, and timely as well. What’s your stand on this complicated problem?

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