Analyse af 'Britain's Mean Streets'

Through the years the young and alcohol have been a cause of debate among wise politicians, concerned parents and outraged elderly. Every day we get flooded with articles about the young’s alcohol habits, and how the numbers have never been higher. Until now, the drinking has appeared harmless, but has it in reality gotten out of control? have the young’s drinking habits actually resulted in more violence and criminality among young people? This topic is broached and discussed by journalist Catherine Mayer in the article “Britain’s Mean Streets” from Time Magazine.

The article is a formal essay with features from an expository- and persuasive essay. It’s a formal essay because it’s impersonal, critical and academic. It uses a formal and convoluted language with lots of facts and statistics. Furthermore, the essay is persuasive because it explores a topic, convinces and argues for its claims and lastly evaluates and concludes the evidence and topic.

Catherine Mayer applies two modes of appeal: logos and pathos. “British youngsters drink their Continental European counterparts under the table: in 2003, (…), 27% of British 15-year-olds had been drunk 20 times or more, (…).” First, Mayer makes a statement that the British youth drink far more than other European countries, and then she presents supporting evidence consisting of a statistic. She appeals to the reader by presenting a statistic and/or fact that seems rather logical and rational, and the reader can’t argue with that – we get convinced. Flot! Mayer applies numerous statistics and facts, so it seems that she has investigated the topic and case well, and has a lot of supporting evidence, which gives the reader a highly trustworthy impression of the essayist. Fint!However, with this TAKEN into account Mayer is still very biased, which is both indicated in the title “Britain’s Mean Streets” and with her choice of word;“Britons are frightened of their own young”, and, “None of those indicators are good, but it's the increase in nasty teenage crime that really has Britain spooked”. She allows herself to represent all Britons and talk on their behalf. She is convinced that she is right and that Britain feels the same way. She has beforehand decided that British youngster are deeply criminal. Godt afsnit ????