He individually abuses the essayist in the following manner: "Even a city slicker should be able to see why dogs belong in pickup trucks," whilst pronouncing Humane Rights individuals to be "bleeding heart[s]"
He is also not addressing the point of the article, which was not to maintain that animals should not be riding in trucks but should rather be restrained from falling out. In this manner he is committing Ignorati Elenchi (an irrelevant conclusion) where he is reading an inappropriate conclusion to the argument. Furthermore, he is appealing to pity ("All dogs love riding out in the air. They need room to jump around") rather than to logic.
And in summary form, this is not an argument: the writer is simply emoting and presenting his opinion in an impassioned aggressive manner.
This type of letter might appeal to a particular "hard-working citizen" (possibly overwhelmed with the problems of trying to make ends meet and, all too often, perceiving intellectuals and 'privileged' others as controlling and manipulating their existence.
Topic 2. Speech fragments.
Speech fragments are a common part of informal, routine, colloquial conversation probably more often indulged in with those that we are on intimate terms with. In fact, the closer we feel with the other, the more likely we are to use these fragments since we feel (whether rightly or wrongly) that the listener knows and being able to read our mind can mentally complete the sentence. Speech fragments are,...
They can be also used during emotional times, as when, for instance, under the pressure of some emotion the person may be too choked to finish his or her sentence.
Generally, then, speech fragments are not used in periods of complacency and unhurried, formal situations. In fact, the more formal and intimidating the situation, the less likely the speaker is to use speech fragments since he is more aware of attempting to convey his message precisely and persuasively then she is sunk into the pressures and informality of a situation. The solution, then, to eliminate speech fragmentation would include concentrating on the other as recipient of one's message and thence trying to articulate one's message as clearly as possible, as well as respecting the other as human that he is and, therefore, paraphrasing the message in a less unhurried, more respectful manner.
Source
Copi. I.M. (1961). Introduction to logic. NY: Macmillan Co.
Speech and Writing Are Not Synonymous. You doin this weekend? Before I left. To buy a book. These are all examples of fragments used in everyday speech. Pay attention to your day-to-day conversations and see how many fragments you can identify and share these with your classmates. What can we do as writers to alleviate fragments from our writing? Topic 2
