The article, Rankism: What Divides Americans by Robert W. Fuller, seeks to explain the root causes of division in American society. The author hypothesizes that rank is a vital element that differentiates people. In other words, society is divided because some people have rank and power while others do not. The article’s intended audience is the general American public, including writers and experts on the subjects such as racism, sexism, and discrimination. The purpose of this essay is to present a rhetorical analysis of Fuller’s article. The thesis of the essay is that Fuller makes a compelling case that rankism is a bigger problem than racism and sexism, which makes it the key force that divides Americans.
Fuller’s thesis is that rank underlies all forms of discrimination and, despite being less conspicuous, has consequences as profound as race or gender. The author supports this thesis by arguing that age, gender, or race is not what causes the primary rift. Rather, the division emerges when people are characterized as “somebodies”, representing the more powerful and successful, and “nobodies”, which comprise the vulnerable and the weak. With such an ideology, it becomes easy to explain why employers harass employees, teachers humiliate students, or even a coach bullies a player. These behaviors reflect within all gender and races as opposed to across them. In other words, a white coach could behave in the same way as a black coach towards the player. A similar observation can be made in employment or other settings such as the hospitals and the interactions between teachers and nurses.
A close examination of the article reveals that the author uses a mix of developmental strategies. For example, the problem-solution approach when Fuller states that rankism is the main cause of all divisions in American society. Additionally, a solution is proposed when the author states the next step for democracy is to overcome rankism. However, it is important to acknowledge that Fuller is fully aware that rank is a critical requirement for organization. Therefore, he specifies that the problem emanates from people of higher rank exploiting subordinates for selfish gains. A comparison-contrast strategy is manifested by such aspects linking rankism with other forms of discrimination, for example, racism and sexism. Rankism is perceived as less conspicuous than sexism and racism, but with equally damaging consequences. The mix of developmental strategies has allowed Fuller to present a comprehensive view of the issue.
As a rhetorical analysis, the main focus of this essay is to examine the aspects of ethos, pathos, and logos as they manifest themselves in the article. Ethos entails the appeal to the authority and reputation of the writer. Fuller is a renowned physicist, social reformer, author, and former president of Oberlin College. These credentials make the author credible and reputable, which means that his views and opinions can be associated with expertise on the subject. As a social reformer, Fuller can be considered as a person who understands social issues and their solutions.
Pathos can be described as the appeal to emotion as manifested by the author’s statement. As a social problem, rankism has been described using statements that evoke such senses as vengefulness, range, and dissatisfaction. Examples include when Fuller uses such terminologies as powerlessness, exploitation, sabotage, terrorism, ad war. Lastly, logos is that aspect of rhetoric that appeals to logic. Logos is manifested by statements that provide examples or descriptions of the main issue. For example, the fact that rank causes rifts has been illustrated using teachers versus students, doctors versus nurses, and coaches and players.
An informal approach and the author’s attitude to the topic determine the tone of the article. Fuller expresses concern that there is a bigger problem than what is currently understood regarding division and discrimination. As a social reformer, hostility and anger can be visible in his statements. For example, Fuller states that the exploitation has resulted in people becoming vengeful and overthrown tyrants and kings and pursued legislation to limit the powers of employers and monopolies. Violence towards people of higher rank, especially those willing to exploit the subordinates is what defines the tone.
Another key aspect of the article is the diction, which again helps express the tone and attitudes of the author towards the subject. The article is informal writing as explained by the use of such informal words as ‘nobodies’ and ‘somebodies.’ Additionally, the short forms of some words, for example, ‘don’t’, also indicate informality. The punctuations can also illustrate the informality of the article, for example, the use of an ellipsis at the beginning of the last paragraph.
In conclusion, the article by Robert W. Fuller makes a compelling case that rankism is the root of all divisions across American society. Illustrations and examples from the article are adequate to inform the audience and to help the article gain credibility. The rhetoric analysis reveals that the author has negative emotions towards rankism and exercises caution in condemning it due to its necessity in organization.