Becoming Disabled by Rosemarie Garland-Thomson

 Questions for Study and Discussion:

1. Quote an example of at least one line that reveals Garland-Thomson’s appeal to pathos (Greek for “emotion”) in the first nine paragraphs of her essay. What emotion is she attempting to evoke in her reader? Is it effective in convincing you to agree with her argument?

2. Why does Garland-Thomson include the World Health Organization’s definition of disability in the middle of her essay? Does this kind of support help her argument? How?

3. Garland-Thomson writes that “most of us will move in and out of disability in our lifetimes” (9). How does this statement expand her audience? (Glossary: Audience) 

4. One of the important aspects of argumentation is judging the nature of your audience correctly. As you began to read “Becoming Disabled,” were you hostile, neutral, complacent, or receptive? Why? Describe a part of the essay that kept you as the same type of reader or that helped you change your position. (Glossary: Audience)

5. Garland-Thomson writes of the definition of disability, “Obviously, this category is broad and constantly shifting, so exact statistics are hard to come by, but the data from our most reliable sources is surprising” (11). Here, Garland-Thomson includes a disclaimer to prove that she is avoiding faulty reasoning. Does this disclaimer strengthen or weaken her argument? Explain.

6. Name at least one strategy that Garland-Thomson uses to create a forceful conclusion.