In the article, Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America, the author, John M. Barry, uses a multitude of rhetorical strategies to portray his fascination of the Mississippi River. Whether it's his sophisticated diction, or his intense detail, Barry's use of rhetoric allows him to better portray his message across to the intended audience.
One example of this rhetoric is his diction. The choice of words in this passage helps create a sense of credibility and demonstrates the effect of ethos superbly. Words such as "extraordinarily" and "gigantic" help Barry further communicate the characteristics of the Mississippi River and draw the reader into the text more efficiently than less-sophisticated synonyms
