In Dave Barry’s “Lost in the Kitchen” he states his opinion that men are practically useless when it comes to cooking. He writes about how he and his friend Gene are impossible doing the cooking for Thanksgiving. When they are given just one thing to do, they usually become distracted by other things, like football. Barry’s purpose is to agree with women that men aren’t helpful when it comes to cooking. The tone of the passage is silly, as the author just succumbs to the fact that the stereotype is usually true. The main rhetorical device applied is anecdote. Throughout the entire passage, the author includes mini snippets of dialogue and real experiences from Thanksgiving Day. This serves to create ethos, as the author can prove his point by saying “I’ve experienced it.” Another rhetorical device used is lending credence. The author admits that not all men are lazy when it comes to cooking, and that “There are some men out there that have advanced further then Gene and I have.” This also creates ethos since it shows that the author understands both sides.
I thought this was a very good passage. I think what made it a credible passage was the fact that the author lent credence, which made it much more agreeable and not as stereotypical compared to Judy Brady’s “I Want a Wife.” I liked the little passages and dialogue throughout the passage, as I could connect to it to my Dad, who is usually less helpful when it comes to the cooking on Thanksgiving Day and is more into sports or other things. Overall, this was a quality passage.
I thought this was a very good passage. I think what made it a credible passage was the fact that the author lent credence, which made it much more agreeable and not as stereotypical compared to Judy Brady’s “I Want a Wife.” I liked the little passages and dialogue throughout the passage, as I could connect to it to my Dad, who is usually less helpful when it comes to the cooking on Thanksgiving Day and is more into sports or other things. Overall, this was a quality passage.