Jacobson 1

Taylor Jacobson

Professor Parry

English 2010

02 February 2020

This is Not a Beauty Pageant

In the text Mr. USA, Dr. Mary Pipher discusses the United States in all of its glory and

all of its mistakes. She does so in a creative yet effective way; by treating the country as one of

her patients. She names this client Mr. USA and goes through his personal strengths, character

structure, personality features, and other things that psychologists analyze to create a diagnosis.

Dr. Pipher is a psychologist and a writer. She combines these two elements by telling about the

history of the United States and how these events shaped him into what he is today. In

structuring the article this way Pipher creates a character that her readers can relate to. Pipher

uses many strategies to appeal to her audience, and to persuade them to take action.

The author appeals to a predominantly American audience. Pipher mentions many people

and events that most Americans would know. For example, written in 2004 the article mentions

the recent tragedy of 9/11. Many Americans at that time felt very strongly about their country.

The title of the book this article comes from, Writing to Change the World, also suggests that the

author’s goal stands to make an impact on her readers. She wants to rally them on the road to

change the world. This shows the target audience consists of mostly adult Americans who wish

to see a change in the world. Because of the demographic of her audience, Pipher uses certain

examples that would arouse strong emotions in her readers, that wouldn’t have an impact on

people who do not have a connection to them.

 Jacobson 2

In an effort to establish ethos, Pipher uses her title as a doctor in psychology to institute

credibility with her readers. When in the introduction of the article she said “it waves together

the most important strands of my life: psychology, writing, and social commentary”. This right

away gives her credibility with the readers. Because she expresses how important these things

are, the reader approaches the article with an open view. The author establishes ethos in the way

she organizes the article, and in signing the article as “Dr. Mary Pipher”. She organized the

article as an evaluation of a client. The author knows what she is talking about, and when she

discusses the mental state of her client. Pipher’s use of psychology, and analyzing the country as

a person also helps the article appeal to the audience because it makes the problems more

relatable. The issues become more personal, and hit closer to home because the problems the

author discusses are things that every American is dealing with.

The author obviously cares about the country. She continuously highlights the positive

attributes of her client. This establishes pathos because most of the readers of this article also

care deeply for the country. By mentioning positive attributes, she reminds the readers of what

makes them proud to be an American. Incorporating a sense of pride into the article is effective

because, in mentioning the good in America, it makes the lows seem even lower. This strategy is

effective because it reminds people of what they are fighting for; “more potluck dinners and less

hostile takeovers”. Many people living in the United States have the image of the American

dream on their wish list, and many are trying to achieve that dream but are failing because of the

country’s social structure. Pipher claims that as the client improves, achieving the American

dream will be more realistic.

To create pathos with the reader, the author points the many flaws that Mr. USA

currently has. Many of these flaws hit close to home for the readers because many Americans are
 Jacobson 3

stuck on the merry go round that our country has fallen into. Addiction, obsessions with

materialistic ideas and war, and selfish supremacism are just a few examples the author uses to

illustrate the disarray that the United States has fallen into. She also expands on how these flaws

are detrimental to the overall mental health of the client, or in other words our society. This is a

powerful appeal to pathos because these are all issues that most people sweep under the rug and

pretend are not there. Because Pipher talks about them so openly, it makes the reader realize how

these things in their lives are not healthy for themselves or their society. It makes the reader feel

guilty, and makes them want to change their lives.

The author also uses logos several times throughout the article. She specifically uses

logos to boost her proposed resolution to the problem. Her plan is logical and simple. That

section appeals to readers because it makes the solution seem so doable. In the section “treatment

plan” the author details what needs to happen in order for Mr. USA to improve. They are all

common-sense lessons that most children learn at a young age like telling the truth and accepting

mistakes. All of the lessons that Mr. USA needs to learn, are lessons of values that if Americans

relearn will obviously help the client. Naming all of these things that need fixed would also make

a reader feel guilty for similar things that they have done. This would be an appeal to pathos.

The entire article appeals to ethos because if the client continues to progress on the path

he is on, many people will suffer because of it. The reader feels a responsibility to help the client

become better to save the citizens. If the county does not begin to improve, many of the social

issues it is facing right now are going to be the end of Mr. USA altogether. Also many ethical

rules were broken in the past, and those wounds still have not healed. The reader feels a moral

responsibility to begin mending the injuries left behind by tragic events from the clients past. It is

also commendable for such a young country to go through so many trials in such a relatively
 Jacobson 4

short time, and still be somewhat on its feet. However, Mr. USA is pretty battered and bruised

and will not be able to take many more hits before a knock out. The American people are

beginning to realize this and are starting to advocate for change, like the author wants them to.

Mary Pipher created a powerful article by considering her audience and using the

appeals that would impact them the most. The article is very effective in rallying troops together

to make a change in Mr. USA’s life. By using specific examples that would sway almost any

patriotic American, Pipher played on the emotional ties to arouse emotion in the readers. In

doing this a reader can tell how much this topic means to the writer because the passion that

shows through into her writing. The authors description of a “well-dressed, rather heavy, middle-

aged” Mr. USA might not be winning and beauty pageants anytime soon but with a speech as

compelling as Pipher’s article about world peace, he just might have a chance.