In this essay, Dobbs explores the
world of evolution and why Dawkin’s idea of the “selfish gene” should not
exist. He does so by organizing his essay into 4 main parts. First, he gives an
example of the Grasshopper/locust in order to hook the reader with an
interesting bit of knowledge. It also adds to his statement later denouncing
the rigidity of the selfish gene’s existence. Then Dobbs goes on to explain
what the selfish gene entails exactly and why it does not make sense based on
his previous statements made about genetics in general. Finally he goes on to
explain why the selfish gene has been wrongfully accepted into the biological
field. Dobb’s organization is very powerful and makes the overall essay easy to
read on a holistic standpoint. By introducing a common idea, Dobbs eases his
reader in, then he defines the selfish gene so the audience can clearly
understand his view on why it is illogical. Once he has already proven it to be
false, it is the perfect time to then speak of the final part. The final part
of his essay is definitely the weakest, providing little concrete evidence, and
mainly made up of conjecture, but is compensated for by the ethos and logos previously
showcased in the essay.
Dobbs also is very anecdotal, when
talking about the story of Mendel. This makes the reading turn from a dry
history lecture into an interesting story-time excursion. This appeals to
pathos, and makes the reading a more enjoyable experience. Dobbs manages to
turn what could have been a boring and overly-jargonized piece of niche
literature into an essay that is relatively accessible while also being
effective in his main purpose.
No comments:
Post a Comment