The Danger of a Single Study (Ted Talk YouTube)

INTRODUCTION, SUMMARY, & THESIS

Attention Grabber:

One story is not bad, however, when individuals are told only one story about a person, culture, or nation, that small story may be the stereotype of that particular story that may influence how people judge others and relate with them.

Topic of TED Talk:

The risks of stereotypes and constrained discourses of individuals, locations, and cultures.

Speaker’s Name (first and last):

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Title of TED Talk: “The Danger of a Single Story”

Relevant biographical information about speaker:

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist and essayist who is famous in writing about identity, culture, power and representation. In her official biography, she was born in Enugu, Nigeria and grew up in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and then proceeded with her studies in the United States. She is quite authoritative on the subject she is writing about by her background as a writer and as a person who has fallen victim to cultural stereotyping herself.

Relevant background information about topic:

In her TED Talk, Adichie claims that only one narrative about something or someone produces partial and usually damaging stereotypes. In the speech, she describes how power defines the stories and how limiting people to a single narrative denies them dignity and multidimensionality. This argument requires a critique of the rhetorical appeals employed by the speaker in order to make this argument effectively, as suggested in the outline instructions.

Summary Points:

· Adichie starts with her childhood experiences in Nigeria and how all she read were British and American books and this is how she formed her perception on literature during her early years.

· To demonstrate how single stories can result in stereotypes, she uses the houseboy of her family, Fide, the roommate who was American, and her own conclusions regarding the Mexican people.

· what stories are being told and retold, and she finds out that not one but a lot of stories are needed to put dignity back and to realize that we are all humans.

Thesis Statement, which sets up your overall analysis of entire TED Talk:

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is quite successful in her argument in the article The Danger of a Single Story since she provides a good credibility by means of personal and literary authority, created emotional impact by means of touching personal events, and provided clear examples and logical cause and effect relationships to prove her points

Analysis& Evaluation of Ethos(number of paragraphs to be determined by writer) :

Topic Sentence

(Declare whether or not the speaker established credibility)

Adichie is able to create credibility, as she is not only a successful writer; she is also a woman who has been an eyewitness to the effects of single stories.

Supporting Evidence 1:

Adichie presents himself as a narrator and specifies how his early reading and writing experience in Nigeria helped him realize the literature and identity.

Signal Phrase:

At the beginning of the talk, Adichie clarifies that she used to write stories when she was a child, and they were in the form of the books that she read (British and American).

In-text Citation:

(Adichie, 2009)

Discussion of Evidence:

( Prove that this evidence does/does not establish the speaker’s credibility)

This makes her credible as it gives first hand experience of the same issue she is talking about. She does not just talk theoretically. She shows that she has experienced the construction of a single story and knows how narratives shape thinking, particularly during the childhood stage. The fact that this is her own experience renders her argument more legitimate and credible.

Supporting Evidence 2:

The Supportiiography affirms that she is a Nigerian novelist whose work raises questions of culture, identity and representation.

Signal Phrase:

In her official biography and their speaker profile on TED, Adichie is an internationally acclaimed novelist whose literary work is based on Nigerian history and cultural experience.

In-text Citation:

(Adichie, n.d.; TED, 2009)

Discussion of Evidence 2:

( Prove that this evidence does/does not establish the speaker’s credibility)

This fact makes her ethos stronger since viewers tend to believe an orator whose career relates to the topic. Her literary history makes her an expert in the field of storytelling, and her Nigerian identity makes her a victim of misrepresentation. All this makes her an authoritative and strong speaker.

Discussion of WHY overall you feel the speaker does/does not establish credibility:

All in all, Adichie has credibility as her message is developed not only through her personal experience but also professional knowledge. She is a first-hand experience of being stereotyped, and she knows the social strength of stories, being a novelist. This tandem contributes to her ethos being particularly powerful.

Concluding Statement:

(reiterate your Topic Sentence and connect back to your overall main point)

Since Adichie has combined both lived experience and literary authority, she creates a very strong credibility on which she leans over her general argument concerning the harmfulness of making people one story.

Analysis& Evaluation of PATHOS (number of paragraphs to be determined by writer) :

Topic Sentence

(Declare whether or not the speaker effectively appeals to the audience’s emotions)

Emotional appeal is successfully employed because Adichie provides personal accounts of how damaging stereotyping is and makes it human, immediate and relatable.

Supporting Evidence 1:

She tells how her American roommate presumed that she was not good at speaking English, was not familiar with how to use a stove, and should only be familiar with tribal music.

Signal Phrase:

When Adichie remembers one of her American roommates in college, she explains how she was shocked and pitied due to the fact that she was African.

In-text Citation:

(Adichie, 2009)

Discussion of Evidence:

( Prove that this evidence does/does not indicate an effective use of pathos)

This scene brings about pathos by showing the emotional damage that stereotypes bring about. The viewer is able to sense the rudeness and disappointments of having people judge them without knowing them. The story by Adichie leaves one thinking about the ease with which people can substitute real knowledge with pity, ignorance, or prejudice.

Supporting Evidence 2:

Backing up her childhood perception of Fide family being poor till the time she went to visit them in their village and noticed a beautifully made basket.

Signal Phrase:

The story of Fide and her family by Adichie demonstrates the way in which the recurring concept may eliminate all the rest of the humanity in a person

In-text Citation:

(Adichie, 2009)

Discussion of Evidence 2:

( Prove that this evidence does/does not indicate an effective use of pathos)

This example is an appeal to emotion as it exposes how pity turns out as a way of reduction. The fact that she realizes is heart-touching as it reveals a hidden yet strong dehumanization. The viewer is not only encouraged to sympathize with the misrepresented, but also to look at his/her assumptions.

Discussion of WHY overall you feel the speaker does/does use emotional appeals to good effect:

The pathos used by Adichie is effective since it is based on actual experiences as opposed to manipulation. Her narratives are moving, intimate, and contemplative, which makes the audience concerned with the matter not preachy. She transfers stereotyping to an emotional level.

Concluding Statement:

(reiterate your Topic Sentence and connect back to your overall main point)

Adichie resorts to pathos to demonstrate that single stories are not only a distortion of the facts through personal and memorable accounts. They also harm individuals and reduce human relation.

Analysis& Evaluation of LOGOS (number of paragraphs to be determined by writer) :

Topic Sentence

(Declare whether or not the speaker effectively uses supporting evidence)

Logos is effectively employed by Adichie who arranges her talk in terms of clear examples demonstrating the logical connection between constrained narratives and stereotypical thinking

Supporting Evidence 1:

( Identify evidence of the speaker’s appeal – information summarized from his/her biography, personal/professional information he/she reveals during the presentation, information summarized/quoted from the Talk itself, etc.)

· She cites that since she read only foreign children books, she started writing about whitish eyed, blue eyed characters (she says they were playing in the snow).

Signal Phrase:

Adichie employs her early reading experience to show how being constantly exposed to a certain type of story influences the perceptions of normal or possible to people.

In-text Citation:

(Adichie, 2009)

Discussion of Evidence:

( Prove that this evidence does/does not indicate an effective use of logos)

It is also a good use of logos since it shows that there is a definite cause-and-effect relationship. When children are exposed to either a single form of narratives, they might develop a perception that only such kinds of lives are relevant or fit into a narrative. Her example provides the audience with a practical example of how one story can change the perception.

Supporting Evidence 2:

( Identify evidence of the speaker’s appeal – information summarized from his/her biography, personal/professional information he/she reveals during the presentation, information summarized/quoted from the Talk itself, etc.)

· stereotypes are not always false, but partial, and that power dictates the stories to be constantly repeated.

Signal Phrase:

Further into the discussion, Adichie describes the issue with stereotypes as not only inaccuracy, but incompleteness; unequal power influences both.

In-text Citation:

(Adichie, 2009)

Discussion of Evidence 2:

( Prove that this evidence does/does not indicate an effective use of logos)

This argument is logically convincing since there is a sense of nuance. She does not state that all stereotypes are created out of thin air. Rather she says that a partial truth is dangerous when it is handled as the complete truth. Such differentiation renders her arguments more equal and intellectually persuasive.

Discussion of WHY overall you feel the speaker handles/uses supporting evidence effectively/ineffectively:

The logos is effective since the examples provided by Adichie are clear, relatable, and related to the main argument. The same argument is developed in each story, but at a different angle, and this provides the talk with a great internal consistency. Her argument is convincing as it is easy, cumulative and based on observable experience

Concluding Statement:

(reiterate your Topic Sentence and connect back to your overall main point)

Adichie gives solid examples and clear arguments to demonstrate logically how single stories can be constructed and how harmful they are.

Overall Evaluation & Conclusion:

Offer your overall assessment of the speaker’s argument, whether it was/was not effectively delivered. Establish why you feel the speaker did/did not deliver an effective overall argument based on your analysis of the appeals and conclude your essay. This paragraph is meant to reiterate the analysis and evaluation you’ve been building the entire essay, but it should not merely repeat your points.

Topic Sentence:

This sentence will look similar to but not the same as your Thesis Statement. It should reiterate your overall evaluation of the entire argument presented.

Altogether, Adichie is a very successful speaker since her credibility, emotional narration and logical illustrations contribute to creating a memorable and convincing message.

Supporting Reasons for overall evaluation:

(Remember that your evaluation of individual appeals must come together for an overall analysis. It is here that you need to defend WHY you feel the appeals work together collectively to make the argument either effective or ineffective.)

Her voice is credible since she is talking out of personal experience and literary knowledge. Her pathos works well as she makes the audience experience the human side of stereotypes. Her logos is convincing as she keeps demonstrating how a restricted exposure creates an incomplete knowledge. Combining these pleas, they support each other and enhance the main idea that no culture or personality should be turned into a one-sided story.

Final evaluative statement(s):

(This statement(s) should bring your evaluation of the argument to a definitive close.)

Not only due to the fact that Adichie correlates a social issue, but demonstrates why it is important at both personal and the world level. Her speech eventually convinces the audience that there is a need to listen to a lot of narratives in an attempt to achieve dignity, justice, and true human knowledge.