He Convinced Me!

In "Binge Drinking as a Substitute for a 'Community of Learning'" Kenneth A. Bruffee is trying to get sutdents to connect with each other on an academic level rather than connecting with each other through sororities and fraternities. Bruffee used many persuauion techniques to try and convince the reader that these students should be participating more in their schoolwork and academics rather than fraternizing and doing nothing but drinking. One of the persuasion techniques that he used in his essay was to give personal experiences that he had in college. He felt the need to fit in so he joined a fraternity just like many of the students that he discusses. Another method of persuasion is by using statistics about binge drinking and taking courses together. He allows the reader to see how widespread binge drinking is becoming and he also tells them that students who are in many of the same classes together become more interested in their studies and do better because of this. I believe Bruffee did an excellent job with persuasion in this essay. He convinced me that being involved with your academics not only helps you learn but it is also a way to become more involved socially so students do not have to feel like they have to fratermize and drink to make friends.