Rhetorical Triangle for The Pressure to Cover

Purpose-Is to inform the dominant groups in our society that minority groups have to “cover up” in order to feel like they can fit in with society.

Exigence-He speaks out of his own personal experience because he has had to cover up due to his sexual orientation in order to conform to the standards of society. He also wants to make the dominant groups aware of the conforming that the minority groups have to do.

Audience-those who are considered part of the “mainstream” and therefore unaware of the discrimination that occurs and the way the minority groups have to conform in order to fit in with society.

Logic-that there is a constant pressure to conform to society so that one may fit in. He also believes in the idea of a “mainstream” and how it is a moving coalition and none of us are entirely fit into that “mainstream.”

Credibility-he uses his own personal experience as a gay man, and also the accounts of other people who have had to conform to society.

Emotion-exposes the standard mainstream and subjugation of a minority group.

Imagery-He creates the idea of a mainstream and how everyone tries to conform to fit into it. However, not everyone fits into the mainstream. He uses personal accounts to create that image of a mainstream society.

Figurative Language-he uses the example of the model of success as a “white, Anglo-Saxon and Protestant.”

Diction-fairly simple words in order to get his point across

Syntax- he uses long organized sentences that get the overall point across.