Running head: Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

Sofie C. Olsson
Antioch University Santa Barbara

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

Oliver Gaspirtz once said, Books like Twilight are not art. They are mass-produced crap
that is meant to be consumed by the widest possible audience, for the largest possible profit.
That is to say, to have the expertise to be able to adjust your writing to different audiences is the
key to a worthy and persuasive piece of writing. Although non-profit organizations are not
seeking to gain revenue, they still need to attract their audience. Casa Esperanza is a local nonprofit sober-living facility that assists in helping to move as many people as possible from
homelessness to housing. The organization should ask: Who is my audience? In this case their
audience is volunteers, donors, or homeless. Volunteer and donors are the life-blood of this
organization. So how does this apply to Casa Esperanza? It pushes their task: to grab the
audiences attention, make them want to become involved in assisting the homeless. Though
Casa Esperanza uses pathos effectively to persuade their audiences by word-of-mouth, their
insufficient skill at adapting their writing to volunteers and donors to show their trustworthiness
and credibility harms the organizations success.
Background
How language and writing functions within this specific genre of fundraising for nonprofit is important. Casa Esperanza is Santa Barbara Countys only emergency homeless shelter
operating 24 hours a day, 7 days week. But barely goes around financially, according to
Cooper (2015), a Noozhawk writer. Specifically to have the knowledge how to write a grant is
vital for a non-profit if they are interested in obtaining money in order to cover costs of the
organization or to just maintain their status quo. Meet Mr. Bowlinga volunteer coordinator and
a representative at the Casa Esperanza homeless shelter here in Santa Barbara. Casa Esperanzas

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

mission statement is to assist in moving as many people as possible from homelessness to

housing (J.Bowlin, February 19, 2015). Thus, it is very important that the objectives of their
non-profit are in sync with the importance to show that the different audiences are of value,
and are able to relay the worth of the organization.
Mr. Bowlin left me with only one written artifact in form of a small pamphletin
Spanishnot larger than a normal-size business card, with minimal font. One can argue that
Casa Esperanza is novice when it comes to how to effectively communicate through writing
through their lone printed writing artifact. Even though one third of the Santa Barbara residents
identify as Hispanic, and having a Spanish pamphlet is good, it may suggest they do not adapt to
its various audiences. Suppose Casa Esperanza knows who the indented readers are, they should
ask themselves to see yourself in their [indented readers] mind, and the invoked readership who
are represented in the text itself (Lunsford, 2007, p. 23) If they want to persuade volunteers or
donors they should provide pamphlets in English that are clear and understandable. The
pamphlet is also ineffective as it contains a lot of small text that is difficult for the reader to
comprehend. Just as L. Lennie Irvin says: Writing is not easy (Irvin, 2010). In fact, it can be
very difficult, because it is thinking, but on paper. Having only one small pamphlet shows a lack
of knowledge of how to modify their writing for their audience, which lessens their credibility.
Casa Esperanzas website appearance also demonstrates the insufficient talent to adapt
their writing to volunteers. At first the homepage appearances is very professional, but with a
closer peek is very humble and simplistic in text leaving the audience with no ethos, pathos or
logos. Only to find on the Web page, in text, in nominal white font all the way down to the far
left, that carries "Volunteers are always needed, especially when on weekdays. Get involved!"
Even though the message is sent, the juxtaposition of the vital text is not in the most preeminent

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

way. Suggesting that their audience may be prospect volunteers from High Schools with an
objective to do community service or College, and University students taking social service
classes reaching out to local businesses to find unique organizations. Also, likely to look for what
they can do, also maybe changing while making a positive and sustainable difference to the
environment or communities where they are volunteering. Therefore, having inadequate
information what volunteers can do both directly and indirectly to help those that are homeless
leaves the organization with less achievement. Therefore, knowing Casa Esperanzas life-blood
is partly volunteers one can claim that Casa Esperanza shows little to nominal knowledge about
the power of identity in such an informal manner.
In similar manner grant donators look for credible rhetorical concepts in the introduction,
the overview of the history, and the purpose of the organization to see if the goals that relate to
the grant proposal. Discovering the website to be very humble and simplistic, with hardly any
trace of informative, enlightening, or academic English; how would you know if the organization
were credible with just informal summery simply addressing Casa Esperanza is in great need
of financial support? (Casa Esperanza, 2015). Since Graff et al., advocate, academic writing
canand in our view should berelaxed, easy to follow, and even a bit fun [] but not
suggesting that you avoid using sophisticated academic terms (Graff et al., 2010, p. 121). One
can debate to leave it too ordinary may simultaneously reduce the credibility of their
organization. Although the text demonstrates pathos of gratitude and speaks to their audience
effectively with we are grateful for the Santa Barbara Community for your support over the
years (Casa Esperanza, 2015); still does not replenish the damage and leaves the prospect donor
hanging there without any ethos nor logos of statistics, or how the Santa Barbara community has
contributed. This gives an adverse stance on the donor; who is vital for this non-profit

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

organization. It is important to establish success in the fundraising genre is to truly connect the
repeating rhetorical strategies. As a consequence, Casa Esperanza does not necessary grab the
audiences attention, nor makes them want to become involved in assisting the homeless.
Furthermore to be an effective organization deprived of several written artifacts requires
certain characteristics. Casa Esperanzas on the other hand demonstrations a diminutive exploit
of the rhetorical concept of pathos. This successfully supports the demonstration of pathos in
accordance to Graff et al., (2010), where the authors argue to use pathos as an emotional
appeals, which are used to persuade the audience and contribute to the writer's credibility (Graff
et al., p. 44). One of the problems of argumentation is to project an impression to the reader that
you are someone worth listening to. This undeniably, correlates with their current applications of
pathos to the their philosophy statements J. Bowlin conveyed:
High ethical standards in conducting its business. Doing the right thing and acting with
integrity are two driving forces behind Casa Esperanzas great success story. Then faced
an ethical issue, volunteers are expected to make the right professional decision
consistent with casa esperanza principles, and standards correlated with the six pillars of
character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, care, fairness and citizenship.
(J.Bowlin, personal communication, February 19, 2015)
It is true that pathos surround us in text also particularly in visual arguments such as
advertisements and many online videos.
Another faculty member at Casa Esperanza introduced me to a secondnot yet revealed
written-artifact, a pamphlet with an abundance of faces. Taking a closer inspection of the
facial expressions the artifact suggests that compassion serves as the voice to help the homeless
on their journey out of poverty and homelessness. Casa Esperanza attempts to improve the

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

opportunity to persuade prospect volunteers and donors by having them identify themselves in
the homeless looks and expressions. Several may show happiness, and joyfulness, but some may
demonstrate mourning and sadness. So what it the goal about emotional persuasion? This
explores the idea that a visual message without accompanying text may have a greater power to
inform, educate, or persuade a person or their audience. Thus, one can claim that this pathos of
visual arguments leaves the volunteer and donor with a hunger to assist of diminutive emotion of
compassion and credibleness.
In similar manner with the aforementioned the leading rhetoric concept of pathos as an
vast percentage of their home page consist of rolling emotional images from volunteer activities,
the community kitchen, and homeless-faculty interactions. One can say this a metaphoric use of
pathos conveyed under its name which highpoints the six pillars of character: trustworthiness,
respect, responsibility, care, fairness, citizenship but also hope. Given that Esperanza translates
into hope in English, which is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen
result in creating hope for the homeless. This particular set-up pathos is the drive of emotion in
the debate or argument to grab the audiences attention.
This leads into to an analysis of the correlation of the rhetorical moves, and how the
invention of their language is the change of relation between one set of moves to another to
persuade their audience. Losh, Alexander, Cannon, and Cannon, broadly explain that rhetoric
moves are the study and understanding of using language effectively and to advance an
argument or strengthen a persuasive appeal (Losh, 2010, 133-135). Reading Casa Esperanzas
text makes the audience question why they consequently use monotonous vocabulary; why the
organization uses certain words as help, assist, give and donate? Mr. Bowlin states, redundant
words like help, assist, give and donateare repetitively used on the webpage strategically for

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

the purpose to on a compassionately level persuade their broader audience on Internet and social
media (J.Bowlin, February 19, 2015). As already in high school the student is taught that
repeating words and redundant phrases weakens your writing character portrayals, and generally
killing your reader's interest in the story. Nevertheless, one can debate with J.Bowlin that this
scenario contradicts what one has learnt at early age, and brings forth the emotional-relation
within the genre of fundraising (J.Bowlin, February 19, 2015). Thus the chose of the recurrent
words as a part of the conventions; forces the audience to change its stance because the repetitive
use of words certainly leaves conventions of compassion, trustworthiness and hope. Faculty at
Casa Esperanza have a knowledge of what words the human can recognize, and alter the
audiences stance and can recreate the emotion by the style that is related to the premise of the
story. This boosts their credibility and assuredly studies has been enacted that trustworthiness is
more important than expertise when it comes to persuasion. (Folger, 1997, p.155). Leaving this
an invitational argument, inviting other to join in mutual exploration based on respect.
To this end Casa Esperanzas strength is the effective use the rhetoric move pathos to
attract their broad audience. Thus, in opposition exploit an illiterate use of the rhetorical move of
logos. This leaves the audience without enough information about the scope of the program and
its statistics of effectiveness. Valuing about clarity and relevance to their website there is only
one tab that can give you a glimpse of "hope" of logos. An illustration is the form of stories how
two homeless have succeeded to settle. The question the audience asks is then: "assist in helping
as many as possible from homelessness to housing" is only two? Leaving their audience without
any logos of statistics or any further information of homeless in progress particularly contributes
to its loss of the sense of ethosits means convinced by the character of the interviewee to the
organization. As we know we tend to believe people who we respect. Because there was null

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

clarity, neither logic nor the effectiveness of its supporting evidence demonstrates their
weakness. Consequently, the audiences logical appeal is feeble. Embarking on the subject
ending up in a position where there is an argument to explore. Claiming that the question is then:
are they writing about what they are asking for? When not providing enough facts or having as of
now: no more than one written artifact.
Conclusion
There are so many things that the social justice organization can do both directly and
indirectly to help those that are homeless, all we need to comprehend is where to start. To strike
the right expertise to achieve their potential is therefore vital. So, are Casa Esperanza
approaching their audience property? Found that Casa Esperanza uses word-of-mouth to
persuade their audience by rhetorical moves from analysis towards action. Also given the pathos
of visual arguments gives information of credibility. However still display their ability to
persuade could be much better if all the rhetorical moves as ethos, pathos, and logos correlated
with one another. Unfortunately, my informer argued, Casa Esperanza does not have sufficient
resources to hire an effective writer with the knowledge of how to adapt their writing to their
different audiences (J.Bowlin, February 19, 2015). Casa Esperanza should be looking at options
to improve their efficiency in writing artifacts, and promotion such as using marketing volunteers
or volunteers with a communication major. This would give them an opportunity to succeed in
their mission. Until then, word of mouth is probably the best way to promote their drive. To have
the expertise to be able to adjust writing to different audiences is the key to credible, influential,
and interesting reading. Right now Casa Esperanza only uses worth-of-mouth effectively through
advice and recommendation through sociocultural groups to spread their message and give hope
to the homeless.

Is Casa Esperanza Literate?

References Page
Bowlin, J. (2015, February 19). Personal interview.

Cooper, Lara. "Santa Barbara Council Hears from Casa Esperanza Shelter About Efforts
to Get House in Order." Santa Barbara Council Hears from Casa Esperanza Shelter About
Efforts to Get House in Order. Noozhawk, 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.noozhawk.com/article/council_hears_from_casa_esperanza_about_getting_house_i
n_order>.

De Piero, Zack. (2015). Academic Writing lecture. Personal Collection of (Rhetorical

definitions), Antioch University Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California.

Irvin, L. (2010). Pdf. What Is Academic Writing? In C. Lowe (Ed.), Writing spaces:
Readings on writing (Vol. 1). West Lafayette, Ind.: Parlor Press.

Folger, J., & Poole, M. (1997). Working through conflict: Strategies for relationships,
groups, and organizations (3rd ed., p. 155). New York: Longman.

Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2010). 9, Ain't So / Is Not. In They say / I say: The moves
that matter in academic writing (2nd ed.). New York: W.W. Norton &.

Losh, Elizabeth M., Jonathan Alexander, Kevin Cannon, and Zander Cannon. (2010).
Understanding Rhetoric: A Graphic Guide to Writing. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 34-35, 130-133. Print.

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Lunsford, Andrea A., John J. Ruszkiewicz, and Keith Walters. "Chapter 1 Reading and
Understanding Argument." Everything's an Argument: With Readings. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin's, 2007. 6-7. Print.