English 101

Here is an exercise and focus questions for the concept of audience.

• Audience: Committee which decides requests for students to waive courses.
• Contextual info: All ASU students are required to take certain courses to earn their degree despite their major. This student is appealing the requirement for Algebra.

I am a 43 year-old member of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and a very non-traditional student currently pursuing Justice Studies at the Arizona State University (ASU) College of Public Programs. I entered college as the first step toward completion of my goal--becoming legal counsel for my tribe, and statesman.

I come before this committee in good faith to request that ASU suspend, in my special case, its mathematics requirement for undergraduate degree completion so I may enter the ASU college of Law during Fall 1993. The point I wish to make to this committee is this: I do not need algebraic skills; I will never use algebra in my intended profession; and, if forced to comply with ASUÕs algebra requirement, I will be needlessly prevented from graduating in time to enter law school next fall and face an idle academic year before my next opportunity in 1994. I will address each of these points in turn, but a few words concerning my academic credentials are in order first.

Two years ago, I made a vow of moral commitment to seek out and confront injustice. In September of 1990, I enrolled in college. Although I had only the benefit of a ninth grade education, I took the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) examination and placed in the top ten percent of those, nationwide, who took the test. On the basis of this score I was accepted into Scottsdale Community College (SCC). This step made me the first in my entire family, and practically in my tribe, to enter college. During my first year at SCC I maintained a 4.0 GPA, I was placed on the PresidentÕs list twice, was active in the Honors Program, received the Honors Award of Merit in English Humanities, and was conferred an Honors Scholarship for the Academic year of 1991-1992 which I declined, opting to enroll in ASU instead. . . .

Identify the reason(s) that the student gives to support his claim.

Are these reasons likely to convince the committee to waive his requirement?

why or why not....

Pathos: Can you identify any parts which appeal to pathos?