Rhetorical Analysis:
Brown begins her article by introducing a specific location and uses words to deceive the reader into at first believing that her story is about an American student working abroad. Her article as you read on though is actually the complete opposite. Brown makes a very clever transition to her main point of how many American companies are providing job opportunities to workers in southern India. Through her usage of pathos and logos she conveys her views artistically as well as respectfully voicing the opposing claim, which is very effective in drawing the reader in to her point of view.
Brown starts out by effectively transitioning from the characteristics of an American individual such as being from Illinois and being named Betty to being named Savitha and living in southern India. This contrast between cultures helps to effectively draw parallels between our nations. She then connects how these jobs offered at companies are giving newly grads their first good jobs, which provide them for proper experience for the future. She names specific companies such as CustomerAsset and the "1 in a half dozen call centers in Bangalore"(516). Brown's usage of logos explains how dependent we are on these workers especially when she said, "When an American calls a toll free number"(516). That really emphasizes the fact that this is a very large business and that it is very common. Just think about how many toll free numbers there are to call and how many possibly rooted in India.
The similarity between our cultures however is highlighted in her article. The agents in India are polite and speak excellent English. This supported her claim that it is a good opportunity. She explains how they get excellent training in American and British accents. She also describes utilizing the great work ethic in which she uses pathos to drive the reader into thinking that it is beneficial and necessary. By comparing the wages of call center workers to sweatshop workers in India it really helps to influence the reader that these jobs are helping the people even though the wages are low by American standards. The word sweatshop a lone has negative connotations with slavery, so it was a very good use of pathos on Browns part.
Throughout her article, Brown is very straightforward and does not try to hide anything from the reader, even if it goes against her bias. Brown included the $213 monthly wage of call center workers in India, which seems terrible, yet compared to the yearly $450 of a sweatshop worker, it is night and day. Brown also clearly states the opposing views that call centers are bad paying sweatshops with poor working conditions. She also references in Arundhati Roy's view that globalization is destroying the Indian culture and basically taking away from the cultural baggage of these call center workers.
Overall Browns article was very effective in drawing in the reader to accept her argument as well as interest the reader in learning more about the issue. She uses pathos throughout as well as much logic and referencing to other people to support her claims or to mention the opposing side of the argument. She really did a fantastic job in building her ethos by using such strong evidence from both sides of the argument, which really helped to build her respect as a writer and make her more trustworthy.
Joe, this is a pretty solid response. Work a little bit on being more explicit about the author's claims--especially in your thesis. Include the actual ideas and not just a general reference to an argument. You integrate it pretty well in the body paragraphs, just make sure we walk away knowing what the author's argument is. (Keep it up with your analysis of the rhetorical devices. They are a little bit scattered, though, so if you could pick one and follow it through--describe it as a strategy the author uses--it will help focus your argument.
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