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Rhetorical Analysis The C Word in The Hallways Taylor Koontz

In the document, the author analyzes Anna Quindlen's article "The C Word in the Hallways". Quindlen criticizes how mental illness is viewed and treated in America. She uses case studies of individuals like Kip Kinkel and Sam Manzie to show how negligence of mental health issues in teenagers can have damaging consequences. Through sarcasm and compelling evidence, Quindlen confronts adults and psychologists about inadequately diagnosing and treating mental illness in children. She argues that accountability is needed from both adults and teenagers to properly recognize and address mental health problems.

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3K views2 pages

Rhetorical Analysis The C Word in The Hallways Taylor Koontz

In the document, the author analyzes Anna Quindlen's article "The C Word in the Hallways". Quindlen criticizes how mental illness is viewed and treated in America. She uses case studies of individuals like Kip Kinkel and Sam Manzie to show how negligence of mental health issues in teenagers can have damaging consequences. Through sarcasm and compelling evidence, Quindlen confronts adults and psychologists about inadequately diagnosing and treating mental illness in children. She argues that accountability is needed from both adults and teenagers to properly recognize and address mental health problems.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Taylor Koontz

11/20/14
Meyer 1B
Rhetorical Analysis The C Word in the Hallways
In Anna Quindlens article The C Word in The Hallways, she discusses the
naivety of adults and teenagers alike when it comes to the treatment, or lack thereof, of
mental illnesses. Through brazenly criticizing the ignorant populace of American adults
and demanding accountability by directly beseeching parents, Quindlen urges parents
to reconsider how mental illness is defined and treated in America.
Through somber evidence and case studies, Quindlen is able to easily address
the main points of her argument. She uses individual cases to verify the severity of
negligence towards teens when they are younger. The cases of Kip Kinkel and Sam
Manzie show how adults have been ignorant toward their children possibly having a
mental illnesses, and that by the time they are properly diagnosed the damage has
already been done. Using these case studies provides logical appeal and makes adults
feel accountable toward the consequences of their childrens actions.
Through Quindlens sarcasm and quick wit, she is able to create tension and
confrontation towards adults and psychologists. She states bluntly: psychological
intervention is cheaper than incarceration, taking note of the ways that the school
board and parents alike are shaming mental illness. She easily shames the mental
health system, using the comparison of eating a happy meal in the same amount of time
it takes to diagnose a child of a mental illness. Using credible sources such as the
federal Center for Mental Health Services she is able to confront and blame adults for
their wrong doings. She supports her main claim, stating talk therapy, or even heartfelt
talk, is somehow sissified, weak. Sometimes even their own fathers think so, at least
until they have to identify the body. These sentences intensify the article, using pathos
to foreshadow what could happen if we do not take mental illness and its treatment
seriously.

According to Quindlen, the real problem that will need to be solved in order to
improve on how we view mental illness comes from the source- teens themselves. She
uses tone to create a high school atmosphere, stating crazy man, hes crazy, havent
you seen him, didnt you hear? this puts the reader into the shoes of a teenager with a
mental illness, with those statements beings things that they are likely to hear as they
roam the hallways. She demands that accountability of adults and teenagers alike is
achieved, so that recognition of needed treatment is accomplished. She makes sure
that there are no excuses that can be made, so that the blame is taken.
Using her blunt statements, Quindlen is able to pull the reader in and discuss the
danger of negligence toward mental illness through discussing case studies, the mental
health system, and her end goal. She uses direct statements and harsh analogies to
intensify the article, showing her serious concerns toward calling awareness to mental
health.

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