In “How to Apologize & Why It Matters, Part 1,” Brene Brown investigates the importance of offering/being offered a genuine, heartfelt apology and asserts that sincere, effective apologies demonstrate several specific characteristics, whether in the actual diction and tone used to deliver the apology or in the context/situation in which it is delivered.
One of the central tasks we have for the Module 1 Main Assignment is to successfully identify some of the specific persuasive strategies rhetors use when making arguments, and after listening to Brown’s podcast episode, it is noticeable that Brown uses a variety of rhetorical strategies as she crafts an argument on the topic above.
While we will explore some of the persuasive strategies Brown uses in this text during our live session this week, there are some important rhetorical concepts that I would like to ask you to explore in relation to Brown’s text in this short assignment.
Please view page 1 of the “Appeals and Common Rhetorical Strategies” document, and on the first page, you’ll see an infographic on the right side of that document. Using definitions for the concepts of purpose, context, and ethos, please respond in writing to the following set of questions:
1. Someone like Brown could presumably make an argument about “how to apologize and why it matters” at any time in her life; yet, she chose the beginning of May 2020 to make this argument on her podcast. What information does Brown provide in the first 5-7 minutes of the episode that helps her listeners understand the reasons why Brown offered her argument about apologizing at that time (purpose/exigence)?
2. Based on your recollection of events from 2020, what was going on in the United States of America that may have made listening to Brown’s argument particularly relevant or helpful for her audience? Strive to identify three specific events or moments within American society, politics, or culture.
3. Brown’s podcast episode seems like an interview with Harriet Lerner, but it may be more accurate to describe the relationship between Brown and Lerner as one of a student/mentee learning from an instructor/mentor. At first glance, this may seem like an unexpected way to frame/represent their relationship since Brown is an expert (check out her curriculum vitae here https://www.uh.edu/socialwork/_docs/faculty-CVs/BreneBrown_CV.pdf (Links to an external site.)). It makes me think that Lerner, then, is even more of an expert. So, the question here is what information is provided about Lerner that would convince the audience that Lerner is trustworthy, knowledgeable, and reputable as a person making an argument about apologizing?
4. Finally, now that you have listened to Brown’s podcast episode, what is one takeaway from it you would consider implementing in your own life?
Aim for a response of 300 words total
Please see the following to view corresponding materials:
Podcast:
Podcast Transcript:
“Appeals and Common Rhetorical Strategies”: use page 1
