Revised Rhetorical Analysis “What Sacagawea Means to Me,” by Sherman Alexie appeared in the Times Magazine in July of 2002 on the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition. In the article he begins talking about the struggles that Sacagawea went through during the Luis and Clarke Expedition and ponders whether or not the benefits of colonization are worth the pain and loss caused to others. He comes to the conclusion that Sacagawea and America are contradictions, and makes the reader realize that from so much evil that comes in colonization, there can grow to be so much beauty and brilliance. Alexie’s use of satire, and contrast were helpful and effective in getting his argument across. Alexie’s use of satire in his first paragraph is effective in setting the tone for his entire piece which is a serious on. He begins in the first paragraph with a scenario of a Sacagawea theme park, where the visitor must go through all the trials and tribulations that Sacagawea had to go through. “For the low price of admission, every American” “will be kidnapped…” This not only sets the tone for a serious paper, but also serves the purpose of making the reader think critically about this. He induced in his readers a train of thought and once he did that gave his argument. His use of contrast following helps support his argument as well.

Alexie’s use of contrast helps support his thesis that America is a contradiction. His contrast is effective in showing this by placing two figures next to each other, one that is amazing and one that is almost evil. “How did we get from there to here? This country somehow gave life to Maria Tallchief and Ted Bundy, to Geronimo and Joe McCarthy… to the Declaration of Independence and Executive Order No. 1066…” Juxtaposing two very different figures or documents supports his thesis that, yes America is a contradiction, and