I was speaking to a pollster during the recent elections and I asked him why, when I see polling results do I see a breakdown of results by gender – men and women, by age – old and young, and also by race – African American and Latinx, but rarely do I see a polling category for Asian Americans. After I asked why, he looked me dead in the eye and said “Because Asian Americans are considered ‘statistically insignificant.’” Those words rang in my ears. Statistically insignificant. Now all of you listening to me here, by virtue of your own elections, are more familiar with the intricacies of polling than I am, so undoubtedly, you already know what this means – statistically insignificant literally means that we don’t matter.

Question

I was speaking to a pollster during the recent elections and I asked him why, when I see polling results do I see a breakdown of results by gender – men and women, by age – old and young, and also by race – African American and Latinx, but rarely do I see a polling category for Asian Americans. After I asked why, he looked me dead in the eye and said “Because Asian Americans are considered ‘statistically insignificant.’” Those words rang in my ears. Statistically insignificant. Now all of you listening to me here, by virtue of your own elections, are more familiar with the intricacies of polling than I am, so undoubtedly, you already know what this means – statistically insignificant literally means that we don’t matter.

Use the passage to answer the question.

In 3–5 sentences, evaluate the author’s use of rhetoric in the passage. Identify specific examples and explain how well they contribute to the power or persuasiveness of the text.

Answer 1

The author's use of rhetoric in the passage is highly effective in conveying their message and creating a sense of outrage. The repetition of the phrase "statistically insignificant" emphasizes the dismissive nature of the term and evokes a strong emotional response. The author's use of direct address to the audience also adds to the power of the text, making it more relatable and engaging. Overall, these rhetorical devices contribute effectively to the persuasiveness of the passage.