Gay Marriage, By Susie O Brien s Article It s Time...

Susie O’Brien’s article ‘It’s time to honour gay couples and allow them to marry’ (The Advertiser, November 20, 2010, p. 27) is an argument that surrounds the unfair inequality of gay couples and the issue of gay marriage. O’Brien uses argumentative devices such as appeals to pathos, logos, repetition, rhetorical questions, tone and considered words and concise sentences. These devices provide the audience with a clear direction that remains focused throughout the entire article. O’Brien begins her argument with a strong paragraph that appeals both to emotion and logic. She portrays herself as a relatable and average Australian, stating her history at Walford Anglican School, following with its location; Unley. Though this is a small omission of information, it allows the reader to connect or associate themselves with O’Brien’s location and therefore creates an image of trust within the author. She follows this idea by listing several statements that begin to introduce the idea of logic: â€Å"I was always naturally attracted to the opposite sex. It was never about choice. It is just who I am.† These statements are made brief in order to quickly establish a connection with logic and the reader which is important for the sentence that follows after: â€Å"And I couldn’t for a moment imagine being discriminated against by the Government for something out of my control like that.† Not only does this set the tone for the overall article but it also places the audience in a position of