A High School Stereotype

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A High School Stereotype

Most students who have gone to high school had a lot of involvement in events that would possibly change them for the rest of their lives. Most students have a lot of memories and went through a lot of changes during that most unusual four year period. Events like learning how to drive, proms, and SAT’s are just a few of the things that all students had to go to while attending high school. Furthermore, most students were also involved in their school in some way shape or form. Examples of this would be sports such as football, track, or wrestling, fine arts such as band or theater, or academics such as clubs like the national honor society. However, to say that all of these groups of people keep only to themselves and never interact with other people is false. A New York Times article written in May of 1999 by Tamar Lewin says just that. This article describes how cliques and other social groups function at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. It also describes the parallels between Chaparral High School and Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. The article uses appeals to emotion throughout, but does not make any real logical argument to back up the facts it presents.

Most of the article rides on appeals to emotion, relying on the testimonials of a number of students to get the point across that the school is at risk. A technique that the author uses to get the point across using pathos is a mild form of scare tactic. Throughout the entire article the author makes references to Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado and how the two high schools are similar in size, wealth, and ethnic makeup. Everyone knows Columbine of course for the unfortunate s...

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...ool with a higher income neighborhood, or they could have happened at a school with a lower income neighborhood. And to pin the events upon a certain high school saying that they are most likely to have a school shooting next is not accurate at all.

Throughout the article, the author presents information that causes one to question the safety of our high schools. This information is directed toward a certain high school, causing concern among that school. Furthermore, the information presented does not have the kind of credibility that it needs to for the author to make statements like those made in the article. Around the nation many high schools are being falsely accused of being something that they aren’t. High school is a time for fun times and memories, and with false and stereotypical articles being written, it may take away from the memorable experience.

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