Rhetorical modes of appeal; Malala Yousafzai

This autumn, Malala Yousafzai was awarded The Nobel Peace Prize, along with Kailash Satyarthi. This was due to their dedication and hard work to raise awareness about suppression of children, and their fight against this and to establish education for all children. In Malala Yousafzai's speech, we can clearly see how the use of rhetorical modes of appeal. 

One of the most prominent rhetorical modes of appeal in Yousafzai’s speech is how she draws on emotions. She jokes about the relationship between herself and her brothers, at the same times as she addresses world known issues. This makes the audience have compassion with the speaker, and feel like a part of the issue. Everyone can relate to fighting with his or her siblings, but not everyone can relate to not having the opportunity to have an education. This provoke feelings among the audience. She also draws on emotions by telling about the how the world leaders have their children in god schools, and that now their must take action, and send the rest of the world’s children to school. This makes rich people feel guilt, and it makes them engage and provide school for other children as well.

An example of how Yousafzai establishes her credibility, is how she talks about the situation she has been in herself, how she has seen it and experienced it. She also mentions all the other girls she represents, and tells about her moving story. When she mentions all these other names, she makes a point of how many girls this problem affects. This strengthens her credibility, when she has so many other who has the same thoughts as her, who supports her, and who are in the same situation as her.

Malala Yousafzai builds logic of her argument by using examples and explaining the importance of education, and explaining what change it can make. An example is when she asks why girls should not be able to go to school. She explains what devastating effects occurs when people, in this case girl, does not have the access of education. When people are deprived of educations, she says, their dreams stays dreams. To sum it up, the logic of her argument is made by using examples that everyone can agree with, the education is important, and by telling that she has experienced this shortage of education herself. We believe people who has experienced issues themselves, and that knows what their talking about.

As a conclusion we can agree that Malala Yousafzai's speech is a very good speech, that is engaging people. She uses may rhetorical modes of appeal, which helps making her speech more moving, and interesting.

Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOqIotJrFVM&feature=player_embedded

Picture: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/10/14/owning-our-health-malala-yousafzais-lesson-on-forgiveness/

Fighting diseases with 50-cent origiami microscopes

I just watched an online lecture is by Manu Prakash, about his invention; the origami microscope. I found the video at the webpage TED talks, and it was really interesting.

Manu is a teacher, and his speech is about a new invention that he and his students has developed, the microscope. Now, you might think that this sounds weird, the microscope has already existed for years! What is unique about this microscope is that it is made out of paper. Yes, paper and other simple materials. It is just as functional as a normal microscope, and it can be used on everything from a mosquito to the malaria bacterium.

The microscope is cut into the paper, and is foldable, just like origami. You just push the pieces for the microscope out of the cardboard, and than you assemble the microscope by its by colour codes. And the best part is yet to come. It only costs 50 cents to produce. Later on, Prakash tells about how they already have tested out the microscope, and another benefit of the product is that because it is so cheap and easy to use, it can most definitely be connected to education in these affected areas.

Personally I think this was an astonishing invention, that has huge potential. It is so important that people are provided with the necessary tools to be able to fight, or first of all diagnose these diseases. I really believe in this product, and I think that it will make a change worldwide.I thought the idea was amazing, and I also thought Manu was a good speaker. He was interesting and educated, at the same time as he made it enjoyable to watch the video by showing off his product and how it worked.

As a total the video was very interesting, and I watched the whole video through without pausing even once. The theme could not be of greater relevance, and what makes the video so interesting is what this man and his students have been able to create out of something as simple as a cardboard!

Sources: - http://www.ted.com/talks?topics%5B%5D=global+issues&sort=newest

               - http://thespiritscience.net/2014/03/07/this-50-cent-origami-microscope-can-diagnose-malaria/