Bogost Blog Post

The title from Ian Bogost’s article, The Problem With Diversity in Computing is a great example of how authors use rhetorical moves within there writing. The title is clear in stating the simplest point that Bogost connects back to throughout the text, which is problems with diversity in computing. A simple title gives the reader context making them comfortable immediately with the reading, it allows them to anticipate what else the article will discuss. The short description below the title “Tech’s discriminatory culture might never change, no matter how many women and people of color are invited into the room” note the potential conclusion that the article will come back to, beginning with the point of the article might seem like the author is giving away the ending, but it is a great strategy to convince the reader to keep reading and find out why the author makes this claim. 

The introduction paragraph tells a real story of Amy Webb who broke her ankle and had to wear a boot making her notice that her trip through PSA was riddled with problems due to the computer systems “not anticipating all the types of people who might use them.” The use of a real-life example connects the reader to the article because since most people have experienced going through TSA they can put themselves in the shoes of Amy Webb allowing them to understand what she went through creating an emotional appeal. That emotional appeal engages the reader, which is helpful when the goal is to persuade them. Using language like “all the types of people” also foreshadows that the article will discuss inclusion. 

Throughout this text, the author provides evidence to back up his claim by linking other articles that support the point. The addition of linking googles diversity report in a sentence that states “At Google, for example, more than 95 percent of technical workers are white or Asian” reassures the reader that the author is using correct data and allows them to follow emphasize the key points through other sources. 

There is plenty of facts and opinions from other experts on this topic such as “Kamau Bobb, the global lead for diversity research and strategy at Google and a senior director at Constellations”. The use of credible people agreeing with the author’s points gives the article credibility itself. Bogost also continues to use Webb’s narrative and what she concluded from her experience, as evidence keeping that connection with the audience that was developed in the first paragraph. Bogost uses Webb’s because the audience is aware of why she would think this way given they already know her story “Webb points to China as an alternative. There, kindergarten-age students nationwide will begin studying a textbook this year that’s designed to teach students the new basics of knowledge they need to succeed in a computational future.” This evidence is credible because it can be understood why Webb believes this. The article even concludes with a quote from Webb followed by the author stating “If she’s right”. The use of a statement like “If she’s right” poses a question the audience might have while reading this article. Following that up with “then the problem with computing isn’t just that it doesn’t represent a diverse public’s needs. Instead, the problem with computing is computing” provides the audience with the answer to that “what if” type of question leading the audience toward a distinct point to conclude.