Article Analysis Essay

Write a short, clear summary of the article: The article argues that the West should apply economic sanctions coupled with security pressure in order to prevent Iran from further development of its nuclear program. The author believes that sanctions would work better than incentives through not providing rewards for inappropriate behavior. The author concludes that, in case sanctions fail, preemptive strike is not the best solution, but it is more preferable to the situation in which Iran acquires nuclear weapons. What is the context of the article? The article, published in winter 2007 issue of Middle East Quarterly, appeared in the midst of the heated debate on the possible measures used to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear program. At that time, several approaches were on the table (e.g. American, European, and Russian suggestions), and an unbiased analysis of the projected effectiveness of each approach was highly needed. What seems to be the author’s purpose? The author’s purpose is to present his stance on the situation in Iran and explicate the rationale behind the beliefs he holds concerning this matter. He also aims to persuade audience of the necessity to adopt the suggested approach. In what type of publication did this appear? Describe it. The article appeared in Middle East Quarterly. It is quarterly journal devoted on Middle Eastern affairs. The publication has been referred to as a useful resource of information on political, economic, and cultural developments in the region for politicians, academics, and journalists. Main types of articles published there include in-depth studies, interviews, commentary, and reviews. Write a brief analysis of the author’s credentials and possible expertise or bias. If no information is available on the author, try to take a guess based upon his or her knowledge and writing ability, which you might derive from the article. The author of the article is Patrick Clawson, senior editor of the Middle East Quarterly, is director for research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He is a well-established expert on Middle Eastern affairs and the author of more than seventy articles about regional affairs that appeared in reputable publications like New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. Iranian nuclear program has been his focus for several years already; one of his books is titled ‘Getting Ready for a Nuclear Ready Iran.’ Who seems to be the target audience? Be specific. The target audience of this article encompasses members of public-at-large interested in world politics and Middle Easters affairs. This publication is not intended for professionals dealing with the issue of Iran or academics: it does not operate terminology or data that needs particular expertise in international relations. However, the article presumes that the potential reader is aware of the development of the situation in Iran since it refers to certain well-known facts and opinion concerning the problem. The author also assumes that the target audience has sufficient education level and enough knowledge of international affairs to be able to grasp certain historical examples or evaluate data supplied by international organizations. In short outline form, show the author’s stance. Then, explain and evaluate the presentation of the author’s stance. In other words, what’s the thesis? What reasons are given for this stance? Are the reasons supported well? The author argues that the West should opt for exerting economic pressure on Iran. He argues that the country is dependant on international economic transactions in securing its well-being. The author suggests a list of measures that might be effective in dealing with Iran, such as harshening restrictions concerning financial operations and trade, pressuring charities that work closely with Iranian leaders, discouraging the investment in Iran’s oil and gas industry, decreasing the presence of international firms and financial institutions in the country. These sanctions will be effective since the primary concern of Iranian government now is delivering its promises in terms of raising quality of life and well-being of the nations. However, economic sanctions are not enough and should be coupled with security inducement through showing how a decision to denounce the nuclear program might contribute to the viability of the country. In the concluding section, he argues that using preemptive military force is not the best option. Explanation for that is found earlier in the text: attack on Iran can be used to rekindle the lost fervor of revolutionary days. Analyze the writer’s language. What is the writer’s tone? Why might he or she have chosen this tone? Is it effective? What words are defined or left undefined? Give examples. Writer’s language and tone are both effective if we keep target audience in mind. The language of the article is easily accessible yet very official. Some rhetorical devices (i.e. rhetorical questions) are used to reinforce writer’s thesis. However, the article relies on logical rather than emotional appeal. As for the terms, ‘security inducements’ referred to in the last chapter before the conclusion are loosely defined, especially as compared with ‘economic sanctions’ which are listed and discussed in detail. Based upon your analysis, is this a credible piece of writing? Explain. It is possible to conclude that the article is a credible piece of writing. Lacking in-depth analysis or innovative approach, it provides a comprehensive summary of main arguments on the issues and has no factual mistakes. Finally, and in detail (really think about this—refer to specifics) how do the stance and language choices relate to the author’s purpose and target audience? Explain. Since the article is a persuasive essay, the author explains his argument carefully and consistently. Taking into account that the target audience consists of members of public-at-large rather than academics, every argument is backed by accessible analysis and abundant factual data (such as figures, quotations, and historical examples). Since the educational level of target audience is high, the author keeps within the limits of official and quasiscientific style of writing.