1 Paragraph that Analyzes a rhetorical appeal.

One of the most effective rhetorical strategies Malcolm Gladwell uses in “Offensive Play” is his use of analogy, particularly his comparison of professional football to dogfighting. This analogy forces readers to confront the uncomfortable reality of their complicity in the harm caused by violent sports. By equating the physical toll on football players to the suffering endured by fighting dogs, Gladwell shocks his audience—educated readers of The New Yorker who likely pride themselves on their moral reasoning—into seeing football in a new light. As a journalist and storyteller, Gladwell uses this strategy to align his purpose with his audience’s values, challenging them to rethink their support for a sport that endangers its players. The analogy is especially powerful in the context of the article’s occasion, as it taps into growing concerns in 2009 about player safety and the ethics of entertainment that relies on violence. By drawing this provocative comparison, Gladwell not only deepens his readers’ understanding of the subject but also appeals to their sense of responsibility, making his critique of football’s moral implications impossible to ignore.