and the response is in!

Engl312 - Persuasive writing.

The prompt:

"This third rhetorical situation will require something a little more intimate. Think of someone close to you—a friend, a roommate, a family member, an acquaintance, a secret crush, a neighbor—and write a persuasive personal letter to him or her (or them) in which you attempt to convince your audience of something. It can be about anything. You might know someone who's about to make a bad decision, or you may have a long-standing argument with a friend. Write a letter (or email) to that person using any of the rhetorical strategies we have read about in the first part of Ancient Rhetorics. You should include research as necessary."

My letter, hand delivered at end of class, 1:40p.m. Mon, 4 Feb '08:

Dear [Valencia, f, member of said writing class, former fellow freshman ward member, and former home evening group "daughter" of author in said ward],

I shouldn't even have to write this letter to you. I imagine it may blindside you. It shouldn’t, but it might. Then again, I think you’re sharp enough to realize I was trying to pretend like I didn’t hear you when you asked who I was writing to—though I am totally sure you know I heard—and because I’m positive you were fully conscious when I asked you on two dates since learning that you are single. Both times you were unavailable. Shakespeare said it best: “The course of true love never did run smooth” (A Midsummer Night's Dream, I,i,5). And now to the chase: after an exhaustive and painstaking investigation of the dating pool, I’ve determined that I’ll never find the perfect girl—and even if I did she wouldn’t dig me—but you strike the balance of nearing perfection and yet being capable of having a lapse in judgment to take a chance on me. So let’s date—regularly. Should you fear a huge and sudden leap, please remember Elder Oaks’ distinction between dating and courting; his dating—planned, paid for, paired off, simple and frequent—is the kind of dating I am talking about ("Dating versus Hanging Out," Ensign, June 2006, 10).

Now before you feel compelled to answer, step back for a moment and let’s agree on something. Consider first this “hypothetical” situation: A gal asks a guy, pretty much out of the blue, if he is dating anybody. He says, “no I’m not. Well, not anyone steadily.” He pauses and then asks, “Are you?” The girl, almost immediately, says, “Nope.” Moments before this conversation takes place, the guy and the gal we are considering have a brief conversation suggesting, with some humor I admit, that they should work together because one’s strength is the other’s weakness and vice versa—in other words, you could say that the guy and the gal complement each other. Moments after exchanging dating statuses, neither of the two mentions that they are pursuing anyone else. So that’s the situation—as I experienced it.

Here’s where agreeing will be important: a legitimate conclusion the guy may draw is that the gal wanted him to know that she was available for dates—in the very least that she’s not opposed to going on dates with him. If a single girl is not pursuing other options and asks a boy about his dating status, especially when she brings it up, the boy has every reason to believe this girl has a measurable interest in him. True? In fact, if you were the roommate of the girl in this situation and found out the boy never asked the girl on a date, I can imagine you throwing your arms up in despair: “how are men so oblivious?!” If I have entirely misread this situation and my conclusion is a blunder, then I will concede error and you may stop reading my words. If, however, we agree, please read on.

Now something this girl could to do be helpful to the boy—assuming she is interested—is to be sure to suggest alternate times if she is unavailable. “I’m sorry that’s not going to work. What about next weekend?” “Oh no! I am already (fill in the blank), could we do something Thursday instead?” Similar, short, simple statements suggest small but significant interest.

So, [Valencia, f], let’s agree to regularly make time for each other over the next several weeks and go on some dates—one won’t do, the first few are always awkward. We may just find that we do complement each other and we have something to learn together; we’ll be better off for trying. Have no worries about long-term commitments or tight exclusivity—we’ll figure out how to cross those bridges should we journey that far. One bridge, however, that I’d like to cross right away is the awkward process of me fishing in the dark as I guess when you have a free night. If you favor my suggestion, let’s sit down with our schedules and find some common open space in our busy lives. The great Cat Stevens sang: “Two fine people should love each other. Two fine people should help each other…”

Respond as you please. Be clever if you wish. And please, don’t leave me hangin’ too long.

[signed]

[the author of this post]


Her response, *drum roll please,* sent via private Facebook message, 9:02p.m. Tues, 5 Feb '08:

Subject: A much less witty response...but a response nonetheless :)

Hey [Cincinnati, m]!

Thanks so much for your letter...talk about well written!! :) I really appreciate what you wrote. Now I'll take a turn explaining my side...even though it will be much less eloquent...hehe...

The day we talked in the computer lab and I asked you if you were dating anyone...I didn't realize that I came off as eager for a date as you described. lol But I was asking because I thought it would be fun to catch up sometime. Later on that same day, I ran into a guy friend of mine that I've known for quite a while. We had tried dating in the past and timing was always off for us. But we ran into eachother [sic] again that day and started talking and catching up. He asked me out numerous times over the next few weeks and we started hanging out and now we're dating. That is why I was busy when you invited me out. Nothing was official between me and my friend, but things were starting to progress. Sorry for not being more direct with you - just didn't know quite what to say.

I'm also sorry to have given you the signals to ask me out and then not follow through. I didn't know things would pick up with my friend right around the same time.

I hope that makes sense...and sorry again for any confusion. Dating is one of those crazy things that isn't often very predictable it seems. I appreciate your friendship and your willingness to let me know how you feel. And you are one persuasive writer...if I weren't starting to date someone else, I'd have loved to catch up and hang out with you!

Hope you're doing well...see you in class tomorrow [Cincinnati, m] :)

[Valencia, f]