An Essay on an Essay: Don’t Call Me That Word

The author’s purpose in this essay is to inform us of what it is like being a black person living in Canada, and also how the N- word is used regularly in common speech. The author achieves his purpose by using rhetorical devices such as giving examples from his personal experiences.

The author uses specific rhetorical devices in this essay including anecdotes, rhetorical questions, using many examples and situations he has come across in his life. The first device Hill uses is an anecdote about how his father laid down three rules that would help him through his life. The 1st was to study, the 2nd, was that if he didn’t achieve complete success at school or work than it was considered a failure, and the 3rd “was if anybody called you “nigger” I was to beat the hell out of him.” This is a very strong opening. It struck me as soon as I read it and I felt there was a little bit of hate in the author.

The first of many examples from the essay is one referring to ...