Running head: Rhetorical Analysis 1

Rhetorical Analysis:

“New Perspectives in Water Supply”

by William Whipple, Jr.

Paulina Gutierrez-Ramirez

The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1301

Dr. Vierra

October 26, 2018

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Abstract

In all rhetorical contexts, the existence of various factors is determinant for reaching full

credibility and persuasion. In the monograph New Perspectives in Water Supply by William

Whipple, Jr., the presence of the three elements that make up rhetoric appeal are proven. The

existing terms for audience, followed by logos, ethos, and pathos, acknowledged by Aristotle,

will demonstrate how the research and arguments presented by Whipple are reliable. These

findings will be defined and supported by extracts of evidence from Whipple’s work. The

purpose of this rhetorical analysis is to prove the credibility to Whipple’s monograph in his work

New Perspectives in Water Supply.

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Rhetorical Analysis:

New Perspectives in Water Supply

According to Killingsworth (2009), rhetorical appeals can be described by Aristotle as

the art of persuasion where he understands that in the power of attainment and convincement,

there are three elements: ethos, pathos, and logos (p. 249). Ethos refers to the character of the

rhetor; his knowledge and beliefs. The second element is pathos which stands for the emotions

he presents and uses as support to reach a deeper conviction to his audience. Finally, logos is the

reasoning of the claim; how the claim makes sense and can be proven out. The audience to be

persuaded should be the focus of a rhetor, in all matters. Therefore, in order for New

Perspectives in Water Supply to be admitted as a trustworthy source, Whipple must be supported

by all three elements of rhetorical appeals for credibility and effective influence, which he does.

Whipple (1994) studied new developments in planning and managing water supply

systems where through his monograph, New Perspectives in Water Supply, he discussed social

environments acknowledging how some sectors in a community have issues accessing pure

filtered water (p.1). Addressing the aforementioned problematic, Whipple acknowledged a

solution of monitoring and treating beyond technical and financial ability to provide. Also, he

described possible water systems considering governmental environmental and regulatory

constraints. Moreover, he approached water supply planners that are privately and publicly

owned, examining the complex approaches to both (p.2). All the information and studies found

in the book were retrieved from several states and agencies among the United States, revising the

regulations among the USA and the possible solutions for deviating arroyo floods water into a

positive impacting usage of water.

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Vierra (2018) claimed the existence of many types of genres, but specifically, three of

which are important to scholars. The first type are monographs which are texts written by one

author claiming one argument or thesis supported by a variety of examples and evidence. On the

other hand, according to Georgetown College library guide, anthologies are distinctive from

monographs as they are a compilation in a particular field, but many authors argue different

points of view oriented towards that same idea (p. 1). Moreover, each chapter has a different

author, meaning that as you go over an anthological text, each chapter will express a different

perspective in comparison to the other chapters that complement the text. In context, the

similarity both types of genres share are how, their purpose is to advance our knowledge and the

understanding of a certain theme through physical artifacts, for example, books.

Discussion

Audience

As the audience to be persuaded should be the focus of a rhetor, and as he or she must

embody credibility, Whipple takes through his work an interdisciplinary approach by having two

master’s degrees in engineering, economics and politics, to reach a broader audience. In fact, this

work is not for general public but rather, for state officials. Ede and Lunsford (1984) claim as an

assumption that by the knowledge, beliefs, attitude’s and expectations of the audience, when

addressing to a specific type, it is not possible but essential (p. 156). Whipple in this case is

trying to create conscience on the actions they are taking regarding supplying clean water to the

population in each state. It is spotlighted on how the federal, state, and municipal governments

are assuming water responsibilities for community water supply (p. 1). As we live in an

environment where population and economic developments are both growing simultaneously,
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therefore, water demand increases as well, including pollution and the supply of it. It is

understanding to be a team work between all officials who organize this country, aiming for a

common well-being. It is an on-going problem that will not be any different from how it was

when the book was first published in 1994, to now, as the factors of a growing population and

economic developments are still major subjects to never be disregarded.

Ethos

According to Haskins (2000), ethos is the first element of rhetoric appeal which addresses

the rhetor’s character for making him or her worthy of belief (p. 2). In this book, Whipple has

intensive amount of experience and working relationships backing his argument because of his

background in the Corps of Engineers at Rutgers University, in New Jersey (preface).

Additionally, regarding his experience, he was for 15 years a researcher with the university

leading the Water Resources Research Institute, as well as managing in state-level programs of

water supply and pollution prevention. Moreover, in educational manners, he has a master’s level

degrees in engineering, and economics and politics, he is knowledgeable in these contexts, being

aware of academic standards, based in government actions.

CRC Press, founded in 1973, is a publishing group focused primarily in science,

technology and medical publications. Many of their books are related to engineering and

mathematics as well. They published Whipple’s work in 1994, not claiming any original U.S.

Government works, but authenticating the compilation of sources as highly regarded. The reason

is, because even though no original U.S. Government works were claimed, the researchers who

contributed with Whipple, performed studies for several state and federal agencies. Some of

these expertise’s includes George Haskew, Dean Noll, and Howard Woods (preface).

Aggrandizing one of the aforementioned sources, Howard Woods is a retired chief engineer of
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North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, and vice president of New Jersey American

Water Co.

Pathos

According to Micheli (2010), pathos is the second element described by Aristoteles

which stands for emotions and how these, by undergoing change, people come to differ their

judgement, through pleasure or pain (p. 2). Whipple uses pathos in this publication as he presents

graphical options of bodies of water throughout the country and the convenient processes of

management options of water supply of each where it is presented different types of storage, as

well as ground water charge options (p. 26). It is discussed the system interconnections and the

relations each have to their ecosystem and to their communities including their population and

economic growth (p. 12). Most of these states are facing droughts, disquieting water shortages,

and water rationing in some parts of the country (Preface). The concentration of this work is on

critical areas throughout the country where new planning concepts must be considered as water

is a need and a right for all Americans who are part of this country.

Logos

According to Little (1999), the last but not least element of rhetorical appeal is Logos. He

describes this element as the legitimate, logical means from different approximations, providing

coherence between the claim and the context it surrounds (p. 350). Whipple claims for different

water supply facilities and management options for the supply of it. He supports his claim with

pros and cons of water supply facilities, giving the positive outcomes of each and how they

would impact the communities and their surroundings (p. 99). He presents graphical images in

regional and state boundaries, based on the water conditions each state is facing. Some of the
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states included are New Jersey, Colorado, Massachusetts and California, with the purpose of

analyzing the different ecosystems in the country and how their surroundings influence water

supply and the management of it. Additionally, he presents maps of the bodies of water in

regional and state matters tracing possible implementations, concluding with New Perspectives

in Water Supply where each state could take advantage and benefit from it, considering

government regulations and limitations of each (p. 110). Withal, the author focuses on the

planning of water supply for private and publicly owned water systems with the objective of

providing clean water to every home and business throughout the country.

Conclusion

The audience is the leading factor of rhetoric. The use of logos, pathos and ethos is a

helpful tool when making a persuasive argument as in other words, it will lead character for

credibility of knowledge, emotions for a deeper impact, and reasoning for the agreeing

understanding that, as an author, the claim is credible and reasonable. Through this process of

rhetorical appeal, Aristotle acknowledges the power of persuasion and the power that comes with

it. The presence of these aforesaid elements is essential when pursuing proper convincement.
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References

Ede, L., & Lunsford, A. (1984). Audience Addressed/Audience Invoked: The Role of Audience

in Composition Theory and Pedagogy. College Composition and Communication, 35(2),

155- 171. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.2307/358093

Georgetown College. (2018). Christian Theology at Georgetown College: Monographs and

Anthologies. Retrieved from https://libguides.georgetowncollege.edu/theology

Haskins, W. A. (2000). Ethos and Pedagogical Communication: Suggestions for Enhancing

Credibility in the Classroom. Current Issues in Education, 3. Retrieved from

https://cie.asu.edu/ojs/index.php/cieatasu/article/view/1616

Killingsworth, M. J. (2005). Rhetorical appeals: A revision. Rhetoric Review, 24(3), 249-263.

Retrieved from

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1207/s15327981rr2403_1?needAccess=true

Little, J. (1999). Confusion in the classroom: Does Logos mean logic? Journal of technical

writing and communication, 29(4), 349-353. Retrieved from

https://doi.org/10.2190/7ATY-RVVU-53FJ-MVC5

Micheli, R. (2010). Emotions as objects of argumentative constructions. Argumentation, 24(1),

1-17. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10503-008-9120-0

Whipple Jr., W. (1994). New perspectives in water supply. Boca Raton, FL: Lewis Publishers.