Obama Email Analysis

        Just recently, Ms. Jarmer received an email about donating money to the Barack Obama campaign. Even though this email was very short and straightforward, it was still an example of an rhetorical situation. In the email, it included real-world situations, which was asking for donations.  There was even a link inside of the email that lead the reader to the official Barack Obama campaign page, so it is most likely not spam. The email never explained why they needed the money, or atleast the specific three dollar amount, so it did lack persuasion. I do believe that if the author would of elaborated more as to why the reader should give money to this campaign, then the reader would become more inspired to donate. The author addresses Ms. Jarmer as a friend, but yet there was a lack of communication and emotion in the text. If you were to call the reader a suppose, "friend", then shouldn't there be a more clarification as to why the reader should donate towards the cause?  For the reader to take this email seriously, I do believe that the author should of used a more appropriate term for addressing the reader.

         At the end of the email, it states that it was written from Barack Obama. I think that the only reason the author put Obama's signature at the end of the email is because they wanted the audience to feel important and could make them believe that if the email was really from the president, then they should contribute and help out in any way they can, which would be donating three dollars in this case. Audience wise, I believe that the author was writing more towards the democratic party, since the whole purpose of the email was to donate to Barack Obama's campaign. The style of the email was very clear and plain, but it again lacked persuasion to the reader. It also lacked detail and body. Overall, I think that the email could of had potential to influence the reader to donate money, but it failed to do so. Even though the email had all the key points for a rhetorical situation, the text was too short and only stated the fact that you should donate money instead of as to why. Personally, if I had received that email, I would of deleted it just because it hardly had any information and did not grab my attention.


Emily Shouse
(406 words).