Abby Saavedra

Mr. Soeth

English 3 AP

27 January 2011

REHUGO Analysis – Reading: Essay

A. “In Search of the Good Family” by Jane Howard

B. Howard argues that having a family is essential to life and humanity, and that a sense of family can also be found in a select group of friends as a support system. She also states that a good family must have respect for each other as they work together.

C. Evidence:

a. Howard explains how a sense of family can be found past actual blood relatives and in friends, since family members aren’t always nearby to continually act as a source of support. She goes on to categorize friendships into two divisions – those that are temporary because of proximity and those that are “achieved by choice” – and how such “friends of the heart” would be there to rely on in times of distress as if they were actual family.

b. Howard provides a list of ten qualities of a “good family” and examples of how such qualities are expressed. The list stresses the importance of solid foundations within the family, the need for the utmost respect given to all members, and the desire to be unified with each other when facing life. To support her claims, she provides her own anecdotes and experiences under each quality.

D. Rhetorical Strategies:

a. Claim of Definition: In the latter half of her piece, Howard clearly states ten qualities of a “good family”. Along with this, she provides exemplification to demonstrate when the quality is useful and how it is practiced amongst families. Defining a “good family” ties together Howard’s piece by providing a direct reference and meaning to the concept of family, which she often utilizes to centralize her argument.

b. Appeal via emotion (Pathos): By the manipulation of stylistic devices such as selective diction and repetition, Howard begins her essay by directly acknowledging her audience and evoking emotion by introducing the close-to-home concept of the need for a family. As her argument progresses, she continues to address her audience to make the connection between the writer and reader more personal. She also selectively chooses her words, using extremes like “best” and “must” (284) and connotations of nouns like “meddling ogres”, “heart”, and “constellations” (283); this gives off the impression of assuredness in her tone and confidence in the high importance of family ties, while allowing a reader to connect their own knowledge and feelings back to the implied emotion from her wording. Howard also cites the personal feelings and examples of experiences involved with the creation of the family, which provoke sympathy in the reader, connection back to their own experiences, and personalization of and concession to her argument.

MLA Citation for essay:

Howard, Jane. "In Search of the Good Family." The Language of Compoasition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 283-88.