The Great Influenza Rhetorical Analysis

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Let it be known that novice scientists seldom find themselves sufficiently equipped when investigating the scientific world; they often find themselves trembling at the unfamiliar boundaries that define scientific research. Being a successful scientist, a prestigious role in society, requires multiple imperative traits. To master the unknown world requires conviction, intellect, and courage. John M. Barry’s purpose, informing readers of these necessities of scientific research, rises out of comradery, investigator helping investigator. Barry maintains a politic tone in order to convey to the readers the significance of these traits to face the world of the unknown. In this passage from The Great Influenza, John M Barry employs the consistent use of juxtaposition, sententia, and parallelism, while varying his syntax and using punctilious diction to illustrate the importance of embracing the unknown. In the first paragraph, lines 1 to 5, Barry includes parallelism to emphasize the need for “certainty” while presenting the perilous effects of “uncertainty.” The symmetry in sentence structure paints a picture of two sides on the same coin: “certainty” and “uncertainty. This is …show more content…
Barry’s use of the sententia informs the readers of the necessity of “doubt.” Doubt by itself is not sufficient enough to make a scientist great; as Barry states, a scientist must undergo investigations in order to confirm or deny their doubts through any means possible. The readers must know that perseverance is mandatory, even when given nothing but their hands to uncover the truth. The inclusion of the quote from a renowned scientist further strengthens the credibility of the advice. Barry also uses the quote from Claude Bernard as a metabasis for moving onto talking about a scientist’s ability to doubt himself. This gives the readers a new train of thought to follow, but without disrupting the

The Great Influenza Rhetorical Analysis

In John M. Barry’s The Great Influenza, the author utilizes allusions to build a connection with his audience and build his ethos, but more importantly to display the vital message of his claim. No science paper can be written without an allusion to Einstein because just as “Einstein refused to accept his own theories until his predictions were tested,” readers refuse to accept scientific information unless it comes from a source they find reputable. Barry’s decision to include Einstein built a connection…

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The Great Influenza Rhetorical Analysis

In the passage from The Great Influenza an account of the 1918 flu epidemic John M. Barry uses rhetorical questions, figurative language and knowledgeable diction, and in order to characterize scientific research and what it takes to become a successful researcher. Barry uses rhetorical questions to provoke critical thinking in the audience. He asks a series of questions such as “would a pick be best, or would dynamite be better?” in order to show the decisions scientists must make. The questions…

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The Great Influenza Rhetorical Analysis

Author John M. Barry wrote a descriptive, in depth passage accounting the 1918 flu epidemic in the book The Great Influenza. He uses an exploratory tone to explain scientists and their perplexing research to the readers of his book. Barry utilizes anaphoras and rhetorical questions numerous times through his passage to enlighten readers on scientific research. Barry opens his entire passage with the use of an anaphora. He reveals the importance of certainty regarding scientists and their research…

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The Great Influenza Rhetorical Analysis Essay

world. Questions such as why is the sky blue and is the universe infinite, are the questions scientists study. Through scientific research these questions are answered. Furthermore, John M. Barry, in The Great Influenza writes about scientists and their research. Consequently, by using rhetorical devices such as contradictions, metaphors, and repetition he makes a well stated claim on scientific research. Barry begins the passage by contradicting the words certainty and uncertainty. He uses “certainty”…

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The Great Influenza Rhetorical Analysis Essay

discover a solution. Times of struggle, such as the world-wide shutdown of 2020, dramatically heighten the already existing difficulties of scientific research. In his work The Great Influenza, John M. Barry writes about a similar time of struggle: the 1918 flu epidemic. Throughout his work, Barry implements various rhetorical devices to characterize the uncertainty and risk involved in scientific research. Barry opens this passage with the simple statement that “[c]ertainty…

Words 591 - Pages 3