America Needs Its Nerds Rhetorical Analysis

Words: 344
Pages: 2

Leonid Fridman defends the ostracized “geeks and nerd” of America in his New York Times article “America Needs Its Nerds” (1990). Fridman gives examples of how students feel ashamed to study and even become social outcasts for doing so. With this article, Fridman hopes to end society’s anti-intellectual values. By writing for the New York Times, Fridman addresses the general public and uses an informal language to make his assertive tone feel more conversational to the reader. In order to effectively convey his message, Fridman uses argument and persuasion as his main rhetorical strategy. Defining the term “geek” elaborates on how society prefers to shame hard working intellectuals than to praise them. Alluding to Harvard, a well-known, respected