Tow #2: Two Dads and One Ideal by Evan Marby

Two Dads and One Idea written by Evan Marby evaluates the author's different experiences of growing up with his biological father, and his stepfather. While spending time with his biological father, Marby didn't have much in common besides playing basketball, and describes him as someone who had no stability, comfort wise and financially. He then depicts his stepfather as someone who was very responsible and number one priority was providing for his family and making sure they have enough food on their table, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads. Evan Marby is a freshman at Indiana University and a 2013 graduate of The Dwight School , and is a credible source because he writes about his own experiences. This essay is  written to a broad audience because it is posted on The Huffington Post, the target audience is people who have grown up with stepfathers or without their biological fathers. The context in which this text is written is that Marby writes his accounts of how both of his fathers have affected his life differently, and why it led him to choose his career path. An important rhetorical device that Marby uses to achieve his purpose is an aphorism. He gives a memorable summation of his point which helps the audience understand how his irresponsible biological father has effected him positively (although the audience would assume negatively) by telling them, "I also thank my biological father as well. His negatives provided the lens for me to value the positives of my stepfather. Without my biological father, I may have considered the responsibility of my stepfather as the mere norm-not something that requires sacrifice" (Marby). The author's purpose in writing this text was to show the audience that he had two different fathers in his life that contrasted the way he was brought up. His goal was also to prove to the audience that although he had someone in his life that wasn't very helpful, it still effected him in a positive way because it showed him an example of something that he didn't want to become, and taught him to value his stepfather and his priorities. The author did a great job of achieving his goal because although this was a personal essay, Marby wasn't bitter over the fact that his biological father left him and his mother. He overlooked this fact, and was able to see the positive side, and learned to recognize that his stepfather had taught him good values.