All writing encompasses some form of rhetorical situation which can consist of a purpose, a genre, a stance, and an audience. In the text, Superman Me by Sherman Alexie, the author shares his childhood memories of how his love for books and writing career came to be. Similarly in Write or Wrong Identity by Emily Vallowe, the author describes how and when she began to identify as a writer and her doubts concerning it. Both these essays incorporate some type of rhetorical situation which allow the authors to develop their purpose.

In Superman Me, the author begins by saying that he learned to read with a Superman comic book and then gives the reader insight into his background by mentioning the poor standards in which he lived on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Easterner Washington State. In the first paragraph we can already see the use of pathos when discussed how he “lived on a combination of irregular paychecks, hope, fear and government surplus food” as to appeal to the reader by producing a feeling a sympathy within us for him and his family. He continues to use pathos throughout his essay especially when discussing how he learned to read on his own and excel on it which was “dangerous” for an Indian boy like him because it was something unheard of. He said he was bullied and ridiculed for his intelligence since he didn’t conform to the stereotypical image of an Indian boy who was supposed to be uneducated and not at all ambitious. Therefore, the purpose of Alexie is to send the message across to the reader that his love for books saved his life and so he is trying to save the lives of others by sharing his talents and gifts with other Indian boys who do not have these educational opportunities or are discouraged due to stereotypes. In other words, he is trying to spread his knowledge to help the public and encourage the reader to spread their knowledge and “save lives”. Overall, he expands on his purpose by using a narrative strategy when describing his childhood in an urgent and determined tone especially towards the end in order to get his message across more effectively. Aside from this, the text as an essay for the genre permits the development of the author’s story and purpose as it allows organization for Alexie’s argument. Furthermore, the author’s stance evokes his passion for books and writing in a way to come across to the reader and persuade his audience that “books save lives”.

In Write or Wrong Identity, the authors begins with a memory from her childhood in which she had to identify a talent of hers. She gets nervous but ultimately identifies as a writer and has to reassure herself that that’s what she good at. This doubt becomes problematic throughout her life since she can never really said she’s a writer with much confidence and if she’s not a writer what is she? Vallowe’s point in this essay comes across with the questioning of her identity. Throughout the essay she asks several questions concerning her ability to write, her identity, and the root of where “the writer” identity came from. She discusses how it could have started with a trip to meet her first grade teacher who showed her to this special writing desk or way before that when she was three and asked her mother to write down the stories she had in mind. However it may be, these origins make her question whether she became a writer because others encouraged her by complimenting her writing or was this something she was destined to be her entire life. Pathos is employed during this internal conflict of her as to generate some type of understanding for the author especially when she mentions “Am I really not good at anything else?”. The essay itself uses a narrative strategy as well when Vallowe illustrates her childhood memories giving her credibility through the use of ethos. Due to her first hand experiences she can effectively add more validity to her essay. Therefore, the author’s point of view is to share with the reader her dilemma as identifying with the identity of “the writer”. In a way to mostly find a commonality with the audience and inform them that although one might feel this way, everything will turn out fine.

The essay by Sherman Alexie resonated with me when the author depicted his refusal to accommodate to the stereotypes of an Indian boy. Similarly, being a biology major striving to be a physician I sometimes feel I’m out of my league. Of course, I never felt the need to adapt to the Hispanic stereotypes yet I sometimes get doubtful of telling anyone that I’m aiming to be a doctor in fear that they’ll look at me and think “that’s not going to happen”. Most of the doubt has to deal with the fact that I’m the first in my family to go to college and have no relatives here in the United States or in Ecuador working in the medical field. Although the case, I try to not let these voices in my head get to me and will continue to strive for the best. In the text, the author says “I refuse to fail. I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky” depicting his dedication and resistance to adapting to the norm which is part of the message he is trying to convey and which I will so proudly follow.

The essay by Emily Vallowe caught my attention in that I too used to think like her when it came to my talents, only that I didn’t have that one thing I could say I was good at. I have no hobbies, play no instrument, and have never participated in a sport. Therefore, when somebody asks me about these things I usually say I like to sketch and play basketball even though I’m not really good at these activities yet enjoy doing them. When it comes to listing what I’m good at I usually say math mostly because I’m not bad at it and have passed every math course with an above average grade. And now that I’m in college and deciding my major to be biology all I can really say is that I like it and can handle it. However, it hasn’t really been a struggle only for when asked about these things. I am still learning and discovering who I am and once I get a degree or unleash my career I can finally say I’m good at something.

Superman Me and Write or Wrong Identity both contain rhetorical situations which aid the authors in developing their message towards their audience. They employ details from their personal life especially their childhood to get their point across as to tell the reader that “they know what they’re talking about” by encompassing ethos and pathos. They include a narrative strategy and use an essay format to help expand their purpose more clearly and effectively. Due to this, it evokes feelings within the reader and a common ground for some readers to relate to which allows for them to better understand the author’s message.

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