“America Needs Its Nerds” by: Leonid Fridman Essay Anaylsis

Purpose, Audience, Context, Tone In his persuasive essay, “America Needs its Nerds”, Leonid Fridman trys to convince (persuade) the reader that the anti- intellectualism that runs rampant throughout the United States must end. Fridman is targeting teachers, students and administrators alike. He uses exaggeration to emphasis his exasperation (frustration) with the disrespect he feels “nerds and geeks” are subjected to.

Context Being a founding member of…Fridman knows first hand the struggles of the bright, and academically minded. When these contemptuious attitudes followed Fridman all the way to Harvard he finally said “enough is enough”, and submitted this article to the New York Times.

Thesis From the introduction of his essay, Fridman’s point of view is quite clear. He feels as though the “intellectually curious and academically serious” in the United States are seen as being freaks, and only derogatory terms are used to describe these groups. He sums up his main point (thesis) when he says, “It is a telling fact about our language and our culture that someone dedicated to pursuit of knowledge is compared to a freak biting the head off a live chicken”.

Subordinate Points #1 Fridman supports his central idea (thesis) when he points out that, “Nerds are ostracized while athletes are idolized”. He says that students who rather study, than play football or party are made to feel ashamed and become social outcasts. (note how I can use some of the authors words here without quotations because of the word that)

#2 Fridman strengthens his argument by comparing how academic success is seen in East Asian countries. Unlike the United States, “a kid who studies hard is lauded and held up as an example to other students”. Parents in the US are often ashamed when their child is seen as being a book worm rather than a dancer or baseball player.

#3 Finally, Fridman demands to know, “How long can America remain a world-class power if we constantly emphasize social skills and physical prowess over academic achievement and intellectual ability”?

Paradox A seemingly absurd statement, that after further reflection proves itself to be true. It occurs when two things that should not be able to exist at the same time, do exist at the same time. Eg. It is impossible that it be both night and day, both spring and fall, both past and present at the same time. Humans however, can experience two or more emotions at the same time or can see things from two points of view at the same time.

Statements such as, “I can resist anything except temptation” (Oscar Wilde), or “What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young” (George Bernard Shaw), are great examples of paradox. If in a poem it was stated that the speaker is experiencing the past and present at the same time, this may mean that his memories of the past are so vivid that the past seems to be existing in the present.