Backpacks Vs Briefcases by Laura Carroll, discussed the significance of rhetorical perusal while simultaneously discussing how we play over rhetoric in our everyday lives. In the text, Caroll initially brings the conversation of rhetoric by implying how we are quickly able to judge another person based on their appearance and style of choice. Carroll goes into detail further on when talking about the media and how their tactics impact us on daily basis- “Understanding rhetorical messages is essential to help us to become informed consumers, but it also helps evaluate the ethics of messages, how they affect us personally, and how they affect society”. Carroll initiates the conversation about ethos, logos, and pathos and correlates those concepts to the idea of rhetoric.  I myself practiced rhetorical analysis throughout my life since I have also been following sneaker trends and fashion trends as the media portrays it. In High school, you were not considered one of the ‘cool’ students if you didn’t have the latest releases of jordan retros.

“Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Towards Rhetorical Analysis” by Laura Bollin Carroll explains the necessity of using rhetoric in everyday life. Understanding rhetoric is a principle part of being a well-informed consumer as we are not simply being brainwashed by the media. Taking the time to analyze situations, whether it be why or how the matter relates to you and its importance, provides us the ability to not give in to the persuasion of these creators without purpose. Laura Carroll also addresses how we as humans make rhetorical analysis so routinely, that it has become habitual. Just like the example Laura Carroll continuously refers back to in this article with the meeting a new teacher for the first time, I had done the same with my current best friend. Occurring in practically the same classroom we have our English class in, this last summer semester we had our first college class together. On the first day of class, as everyone piled into the classroom I had scanned the room to see what my peers were like. Being my first ever class at the City College of New York I wanted an insight on what my next four years would be like. As I looked around the room, I noticed a lot of diversity within my fellow classmates, not only limited to race but personalities. When I had first seen Reem, my best friend, I had judged her based on her looks. From the way she dressed to her body language, she had come off to me as a stuck up and arrogant. I analyzed the way she spoke to the professor and her shyness came off as being rude from what I could hear. It wasn’t until we sat next to each other and started talking that I got to know her for who she really is. Therefore, we must not always use the judgments we made off of rhetorical analysis as solely our understandings of things.  

In “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis”, Laura Bolin Carroll explains the need for rhetorical analysis to assist in deciphering the purpose and intent behind a plethora of situations encountered daily. She expounds on the subject by describing the steps required to effectively do this.

In her piece, Carroll first points out how we are continuously analyzing the people and environment around us. Through our observations and past experiences, we are usually able to come to a conclusion pretty quickly with regard to the person or thing we are analyzing. Often times this is done without even noticing that we are doing it, without understanding there is actually a mechanism behind it. Carroll explains that this process is called rhetorical analysis and how understanding this skill, and becoming proficient in it, will allow us to “become better about making savvy judgments about the people, situations and media we encounter.”

    Rhetorical analysis is the ability to evaluate the way language and images are used to persuade and influence our daily choices. According to Carroll, “one of the first places to start is context.” She goes on to explain that in order to determine and understand the context, there are three factors one should consider: exigence, audience and constraints.