Critique #2

  In the latest article, http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/10/opinion/mccormick-veterans-shutdown-props/index.html?hpt=op_t1, Nick McCormick reaches out to our troops and their families. He discusses how the Government Shutdown affects America's veterans every day. He reaches out to these people who have put their life on the line for this country, only to have it thrown back in their faces. Nick McCormick draws his audience in with a thought that provides sympathy to those troops impacted by the Government Shutdown. This is a great way to draw readers in because it makes readers wonder how this thought came about and in order for them to find that out, they will have to continue reading the article. Nick also provides us with facts, as well as opinions, which makes this author trustworthy because not only is he stating the truth about this issue, but he's also telling us how he feels about these facts and why they can be devastating to America's veterans. This information shows that this author is trustworthy, but it can also hurt his credibility because it shows that this article is very one-sided. Nick only talks about how the Government Shutdown affects our troops; he doesn't discuss the possibility of it helping our troops, which makes the reader question why he/she should agree with his argument. His argument is a strong one, with a lot of evidence to support his claim but it focuses more on the Government Shutdown then it does on our troops. I feel this article is a good article, but there are some minor problems within the article that can have an impact on the author, such as the word choice the author uses and how it can be offending to some people. I agree with Nick's claim because it is absolutely true, but I do think he could've presented it to the readers in a manner that would inspire them to think about this issue and whether they feel it hurts our troops, instead this article forced us to pick a side. Our troops shouldn't be affected by such a petty issue because they are the ones who keep our country safe, but as Americans we shouldn't base our judgment off of what somebody else tells us, we should ponder that thought and decide whether this author provided us with enough facts for us to agree. Nick McCormick does a good job overall at explaining why our troops deserve better when it comes to the Government Shutdown.