17.4k views
5 votes
(RI.2.5) Why does Myatt end the first paragraph with "My questions are these. What is fair? Is life fair? Should life be fair? I'll frame the debate, and you decide...?

a. to show the reader that he already has answers to these questions

b. to set the reader up for the opposite of what they expect from him

c. to set up his claim, hoping he will convince the audience of his views

d. to show that he already answered these questions in the first paragraph

User Munomono
by
8.2k points

1 Answer

0 votes

Final answer:

Myatt uses rhetorical questions at the end of the first paragraph to engage readers and set up the exploration of fairness, demonstrating a thoughtful rhetorical strategy that primes the audience for the subsequent narrative or argumentative journey.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author Myatt likely ends the first paragraph with questions such as "What is fair? Is life fair? Should life be fair?" to engage readers and set up a philosophical inquiry that will be explored throughout the text. This rhetorical strategy is significant because it introduces the topic sentence's claim by presenting fundamental questions that encourage the audience to think deeply about the concept of fairness.

Using rhetorical questions is a persuasive tool designed to provoke thought without expecting a direct answer from the audience. It allows Myatt to establish a dialogic connection between the text and the reader, presenting a challenge to the audience’s preconceived notions while aligning the discussion's relevance with real-life issues. This technique also helps frame the debate, suggesting an impartial exploration of the topic and demonstrating attentiveness to the rhetorical situation.

Furthermore, by prompting readers to internally debate these questions, Myatt is highlighting the importance of exploring the 'So what?' aspect, which makes an argument more compelling by illustrating the significance of the issue at hand. Therefore, the author primes readers for a thoughtful exploration of the concepts of fairness and its application to life, setting expectations for the narrative or argumentative journey that follows.

User Damccull
by
8.2k points