Rhetorical Analysis Of Blogging

Do not sit in front of the TV and stare, instead go read a book: a saying most children have heard from adults multiple times over the years. Goldberg in his blog post, “If technology is making us stupid, it’s not technology’s fault” describes how the introduction of technology into our daily lives, brings plenty of learning opportunities to the fingertips of many people that were otherwise unavailable. Goldberg’s purpose is to convey the idea that technology is not at fault for the decrease in intelligence. He equips himself with a matter-of-fact tone to appeal to his audience of parents and teachers that technology isn't causing the decline and that it is actually a useful tool for learning. Using the three persuasive appeals of logos, ethos
With his background in issues ranging from law to digital humanities he quickly establishes ethos by defining his credibility on the matter. Goldberg goes on to discuss the finding of a five-year study that showed how the introduction of computers and TV led to children spending less time on schoolwork and more time on the Internet, which ultimately resulted in a decline in math and reading skills. Another study that he analyzes in his blog post is that of David Brooks who stressed a finding that the “internet experience undermines the history and knowledge of lasting import”, which in that case is the reading of classics. These studies display Goldberg is using ethos, with the acknowledgment of these studies Goldberg appeals to the portion of the audience who might have the notion that technology is at fault for the decline in reading and math levels. This technique shows that Goldberg is attempting to shape the reader's response to a positive one by having them agree right off the bat and continue reading so he can further explain why this isn't the case. This is also known as pathos because he is showing understanding on why the audience might believe that technology is at