Rhetorical Analysis Of Idiot Nation By Michael Moore

Many Americans believe that children are the future and deserve a high quality education. According to Michael Moore’s “Idiot Nation", they are oblivious to the lack of education that actually takes place in schools. Moore begins to build his credibility by using personal anecdotes and humor, citing statistics and facts, and using emotional appeals.

In the first paragraphs of his article, Moore tells a story about watching a trivia show on ESPN. He discusses how people who weren't necessarily the most intelligent could still retain facts and statistics about football. Watching this unfold made Moore think about education and the American mind. He wanted to find out why these “jocks” and “lunkheads” could spit out trivia questions, but still struggled to “read the label on a Bud.” (Moore, 1).

It is very evident that Moore is trying to use ethos to appeal to his audience. He makes the article very personal by relating his research to personal experiences. At one point, Moore says “I hate writing these words. I love this big lug of a country and the crazy people in it.” (1). When discussing such an important topic, making it personal helps gain the trust of his audience. Moore also uses phrases like “testosterone-loaded bruisers”, and many sarcastic comments to appeal to

He is discussing all of the things American schools are lacking, using emotionally charged facts to appeal to his audience. “For those exposed to books at home, the loss of a library is sad. But for kids who come from environments where people don't read, the loss of a library is a tragedy that might keep them from ever discovering the joys good reading…,” (Moore, 8). His goal is to make the audience feel sympathy for the many Americans dealing with the problem, and guilt for not doing anything to help. He also uses words like “disadvantaged", “deprived", and other words with negative