Rhetorical Analysis- Source for Paper A

“Terror Mosque at Ground Zero: 3 Things Sarah Palin Doesn’t Want You to Know” BYU Political Review, September 2010- Vol. 6, Issue 1

Summary: This article talks about the “terror mosque” that Sarah Palin, Fox News and Newt Gingrich speculate would be a headquarters for radical Islam. The article lists out three facts that are not mentioned, however, with either of these other sources. It states how 1) the “terror mosque” is not strictly a mosque, but part of a complex called Park51. The second fact it states is that 2) the mosque is not at ground zero, but on the ashes of a former Burlington Coat Factory around the corner from ground zero. The last point made is that 3) the mosque is not sponsored by terrorists but by Mr. Gamal, a real estate broker who also leases trendy lofts in NYC’s TriBeCa neighborhood.

1. The argument of this article is that the mosque being built in NYC is not a “terror mosque”, contrary to what has been said by previous sources such as Sarah Palin and Fox News.

2. The audience includes conservative BYU students who have listened to Sarah Palin, Fox News and Newt Gingrich speculate about the building of the mosque in NYC, and have not heard information from any other sources.

3. The goal of this article is to enable students with the facts and make students aware of their responsibility as citizens to respect and uphold not only their own rights, but the rights of others.

4. The speaker tries to make the argument that the mosque is not a “terror mosque” through the use of several elements of rhetoric.

Logos- Logos is one of the most prevalent uses of rhetoric in this article. The whole article is based on the premise of “3 facts”, thus taking every argument opposing sources have said and countering it with a fact. For example, the mosque has been called “terror mosque” but the article states how it is not strictly a mosque but part of a community complex. The article also states how the article is not right on top of ground zero, but several blocks away on the remains of a dilapidated building. By countering these arguments with facts, the speaker uses logic to persuade the audience to understand the argument that the mosque is not a terrorist building.

Pathos- The article also uses pathos to persuade the audience that the mosque is not just a terror mosque. The article talks about the only other mosque in the area of Manhattan is overcrowded to the point that worshippers are forced to say their prayers in the streets and they have nowhere to go. This imagery conjures up the emotion of sympathy for the Muslim people, because they are limited in their ability to worship. The speaker is utilizing the emotion of sympathy to motivate the audience to have compassion on these people and realize that there are not terrorist connections with them or a mosque being built.

Sufficient- The speaker does use sufficient evidence to support the claim that the mosque does not have terrorist motivations or connections. The speaker does give detailed evidence on the type of building the mosque will be a part of including a pool, gym, theater, multi-faith worship center and an area with public rooms open for reservation. The article talks about how it would be similar to a YMCA. The article also talks in detail about the location of the mosque and the person in charge of its building, thus giving plenty of evidence to achieve the article’s goal of informing BYU students with the facts.

Typical- The speaker is reasonable and knowledgeable and presents evidence that would be acceptable to BYU students. Rather than using Ad Populum, or jumping on the band wagon, the author uses a different point of view that would still be representative of the concerns of BYU students such as the religious freedom of others in the United States. The speaker uses facts, such as the building of the Park51 complex that would be something BYU students would be familiar with, such as a stake center with basketball courts and areas for receptions.

5. Due to its sufficient evidence, and relevance to BYU students, this article was very effective in accomplishing its goal of informing BYU students with the facts that the mosque in NYC is not a “terror mosque”. The use of logic and emotions such as sympathy and compassion is a persuasive combination in order to accomplish the goal of students realizing the rights of the Muslim people in having their own worship center.