Bias_and_Rhetorical_Devices

* Assignment: Bias, Rhetorical Devices, and Argumentation * * Bias and Fallacy * Some examples of bias are at the beginning of the speech. They depict Jim Gettys as evil. The campaigner states, “There is only one man who can rid the politics of this State of the evil domination of Boss Jim Gettys.” Then Kane says, ”With one purpose only: to point out and make public the dishonesty, the downright villainy, of Boss Jim W. Gettys' political machine -- now in complete control of the government of this State!” These are not only biased but can also be considered fallacies. This speech is full of emotional fallacy. They use scare tactics in the way the portray Gettys. Campaigner is clearly in support of Kane, which makes him have a biased opinion of both candidates. Example, “There is only one man who can rid the politics of this State of the evil domination of Boss Jim Gettys. I am speaking of Charles Foster Kane, the fighting liberal, the friend of the working man, the next Governor of this State, who entered upon this campaign.” Another fallacy is Begging the question- Kane is portrayed to have won the election. “Jim Gettys has something less than a chance. Every straw vote, every independent poll shows that I'll be elected.” Here the claim is that Kane will win in reference to polls. The election has not happened yet though. This suggests that the conclusion is that Kane will be governor. Rhetorical Devices Alliteration is clearly used in, “The decent, ordinary citizens know that I'll do everything in my power to protect the underprivileged, the underpaid, and the underfed!” The speech also exaggerates the way Gettys has ran his office, ” to point out and make public the dishonesty, the downright villainy, of Boss Jim W. Gettys' political machine -- now in complete control of the government of this State!” This statement is using the rhetorical device Hyperbole. Arguments and Counterarguments I do not think the arguments in this speech where very good. There were no facts to support claims, such as “to point out and make public the dishonesty, the downright villainy, of Boss Jim W. Gettys' political machine -- now in complete control of the government of this State!” Having no real background knowledge of Jim Gettys, I would wonder what makes him dishonest and villainy. He clearly tries to appeal to the voter’s emotion and invoke anger towards Gettys, but that is all he does. While I think he did a great job of appealing to the emotion of people he had little facts to support his claims. The only support he gave as to why he is the right choice is that he is on the side of the common people. Effectiveness The argument was effective, because it played off of emotion. I think the people’s emotion where reached and invoked, to respond to Kane as the good guy and Gettys as the bad guy. There still is no support to why Kane is better for the job than Jim Gettys. The argument just insinuates that Gettys is corrupt and needs to be on trial.