Samuel Johnson's Letter Summary

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Throughout the course of Samuel Johnson’s letter in response to a woman asking him to recommend her son for patronage to a university, he effectively provides evidence to support his decision for not complying with the mother’s request. Samuel Johnson successfully conveys his denial through implementing diction, tone, and logos to achieve his purpose of explaining why the mother’s proposal is unreasonable in his opinion. Employing these elements into a cohesive response allows his opposition to completing the task to become evident to the reader while he maintains a gracious atmosphere throughout his denial. Originally, Johnson acknowledges the emotional state of the mother and expresses sympathy for her through his diction. He goes on to provide

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