Argument Analysis

John Doe

David Marsh

ENG 112 Argument Based Research 0901FA

October 20, 2013

Week 9: Argument Analysis

In his article “The Case for Reality TV,” Michael Hirschorn makes a snide and pompous argument suggesting that reality television is a more valid and relevant form of entertainment than traditional non-reality programming. His thesis revolves largely around the idea that these “unstaged” dramas are more akin to sociological studies, pawning off shows like The Real Housewives of Orange County as grand experiments ripe for analyzing human nature. In truth, what Michael Hirschorn fails to acknowledge is his extreme bias based on his vested interest in the continued exploitation of so called reality television programs.

While Hirschorn briefly acknowledges his relationship with the VH1 network, he fails to elaborate on how much of a stake he actually has in the reality genre. He has made millions selling shows which most would agree cannot be confused with great studies in the behavior of man. And as he likens what he is peddling to the next best thing since the Human Genome Project, he speaks like a business executive pouring over ratings when he states that the current market “a visceral need for a different kind of television at a time when the Web has made more traditionally produced video seem as stagey as Molière.” The comment clearly shows the author to be a producer or media executive hearing cash registers ringing. In an attempt to distance himself from this fact he says that, “Even television programmers see the genre as a kind of visual Hamburger Helper: cheap filler that saves them money they can use elsewhere for more-worthy programming.” Knowing he is part of that clique, he unwittingly acknowledges how cheap the reality genre is, both financially and socially. Hirshorn acknowledges that most people are avidly on the other side of the issue, but he says this in such a way as to make it difficult for even the most open-minded reader to relate to him and his ideas. That is unless the reader is a television magnate with dollar signs in their eyes.

His writing, while passionate and very articulate, is so strewn with bias and wreaking of personal agenda that it is difficult to accept that he actually believes his own words. It sounds more like a pitch from a cynical ad man on Madison Avenue than something the average reader and concerned viewer is supposed to take seriously. So no Mr. Hirschorn, the Apprentice is not “Darwinism set loose.” Rather, it is dimwitism and unbridled fuax drama packaged to sell to the masses. You may be the Don Draper (cue the Mad Men theme) of reality TV, but we are not buying.

�Proper Heading

�Good thesis here

�Good topic sentence and then notice how he supports it throughout.

�Again, another good statement

�This lacks a little development but overall, this student has done a good analysis. It is focused on the effectiveness or lack-there-of, of the overall argument. He uses good examples and great argumentative language.

Please use this as a solid model for analysis 2.