Two articles were written in regards to the annual, “R U OK day”, this day is a charity specialising in suicide prevention. It asks individuals to connect with others around them and support anyone who is struggling, with real emphasis and support for those who are mentally ill. An article written by Helen Razer contends that, “The greatest hurdle to treatment for mental illness, in most cases, the lack of it. And feel good “R U OK” campaigns are not going to fix the problem.” She maintains an aggravated tone throughout her article and employs techniques such as inclusive language and ad hominem attacks to convey her contention and connect with the readers. Contrastingly, an editorial written in the Sydney Morning Herald contends that “R U OK day” should not be recognised on just one day, but should occur every day. The author employs evidence and statistics to evoke sympathetic responses from the readers. The author sustains a poignant tone throughout the article.
The contention of Helen Razer’s article can be found in the bold heading and the statement following it, as opposed to being within the article. This structural technique clearly cites her contention and allows readers to readily understand her argument. In the first several paragraphs, to endorse her contention, she utilises evidence and expert opinions …show more content…
By employing this persuasive technique Razer gains the attention of her readers and adds emphasis to her argument. She also attempts to discredit her opposition, “Those who do write and broadcast about the urgent need for individual tolerance… have rarely themselves experienced need for public health services.” She is able to strengthen her argument by discrediting those who are advocates for “RUOK?” day. This technique weakens the opposition and in turn makes her argument more