proposal

Title: Proposal

Topic: California Proposition 30

Analysis of argument:

Exigence: Proposed continued cuts to education funding have resulted in multiple propositions which attempt to create more funding for California public schools, including Prop 30.

Intended audience: Undecided/uneducated voters, opposed voters.

Purpose: To create an argument for Prop 30.

Rhetorical analysis:

Writer’s strategy #1: Logos:

- If prop 30 doesn’t pass, community colleges like Cabrillo lose an additional 7.3% of funding.

-Cabrillo would lose space for more 780 full time students

-due to previous funding cuts, there are already restrictions on attempts at courses

-Prop 30 is funded by a tax increase for the top 3% of earners and a ¼ cent sales tax increase.

Writer’s strategy #2: Ethos: As a long time community college student and daughter of a long time public school employee I have experienced and witnessed the increased budget cuts and the hardship it creates for students and administrators.

Writer’s strategy #3: Pathos: I’ve struggled to pay for rising education costs without financial aid, paying much of my school fees with my earnings from minimum wage jobs and the rest with help from my grandpa. Many students like me may find it impossible to pay for school with more tuition increases. More students will struggle to complete their required classes due to limitations on attempts and enrollment, increasing the time spent in community college and the time it takes to transfer or graduate.

Reader effect #1:

-7.3% is a staggering amount for already struggling community colleges.

-Otherwise qualified community members and young people will lose the opportunity to further their education due to budget cuts

-The education system is already underfunded and creating obstacles for student success: this will only get worse with more cuts.

-The tax increase will minimally affect middle and lower class tax payers (the majority of voters). The sales tax increase is an almost unnoticeable change and the income tax increase only affects the rich.

Reader effect #2: Reader will see that I am involved in the school system and have experienced previous budget cuts.

Reader effect #3: Reader will empathize with students who have to prolong their education or forgo it completely due to decreased funding.