In a situation where communities struggle to make ends meet, good teachers are the solution to the struggles. America has great schools with great opportunities, but not everyone in America has the privilege to attend these schools. An article called, "6 Stories That Prove Good Teachers Might Actually be Magic" by Catherine Pearson argues that good teachers can help children succeed no matter what their background may be. She organizes her article into six different parts, each with a different teacher's story. Each story includes a picture or video and a description of the exceptional efforts the teacher has made, as well as the impact it has made on the students as evidence that good teaching does make a difference. The article would have been more impactful if it had included a conclusion, but the stories and videos were meaningful in and of themselves. The purpose of Pearson's article can be perceived in different ways, but the most straightforward intention was to recognize and encourage creative, caring teaching in America. Reading about teachers who have done the right thing and the benefit this has on children and the future they have in store is refreshing to the audience, who is mostly made up of parents and other teachers. By writing this article, Pearson has promoted actions in the eyes of other teachers such as incorporating music into learning and forming positive relationships with students, which could improve the education system of America and therefore the economy.
One reason the author appeals to the the teachers in her audience is by using a appreciative tone in regards to all teachers: "teachers in the United States put in an average of 52 hours a week, overseeing an average of 20 kids per class. It’s hard work." Pearson comes across as grateful because she recognizes that teaching takes effort. This kind of recognition is achieved with respectful diction, as she exhibits when she says, "It’s Teacher Appreciation Week again, that time of year when we pause to honor the truly awesome work that educators do, and to thank them for showing up for our country’s kids day after day, and week after week." Expressing respect through phrases like "truly awesome" allows teachers to soften up when they read about other teachers who may be doing things they do not agree with; by acknowledging teaching as a difficult profession, those who are struggling feel more open to look at different perspectives. In addition to a consistent theme of appreciation, Pearson's syntax shows consistency: most sentences are long and many of them are complex. For example, she describes, "First grade teacher Katie Blomquist, who teaches in South Carolina, captured national attention in March when she surprised her students with hundreds of custom-made bikes she helped purchase via a viral GoFundMe campaign." She uses long sentences when summarizing teachers' stories to pass as much information as possible in a smooth way. Pearson's argument was effective, credible, and reassuring to the people who need to see some good in the world. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/6-stories-that-prove-good-teachers-might-actually-be-magic_us_5911d0aae4b0a58297df7cf8?section=us_parents
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May 2017
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