By using examples you can make a
more sound argument because they are able to back up a claim with specific
instances. On page 316 Steve Jobs uses an example of when he was diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer to argue, to the graduating class at Stanford, that they
should make the most out of every moment. If this example was just a picture
and small caption it wouldn’t be able to make the same argument, and would not
invoke the same emotion as the whole written example does.
In
the example Jobs first describes the day he was diagnosed, talking about how it
was at 7:30 in the morning and that there was a tumor found on his pancreas.
This part you probably could have shown in a picture, however he then goes on
to describe his interaction with the doctor and with that the emotions he felt
from what the doctor was telling him. For example the doctors tell him he has
no longer than three to six months left so he should go home and get his affairs
in order. So what Steve Jobs thinks the doctors are trying to say is to prepare
to die, and to make sure everything is “buttoned” up so that it will be easier
for his family. Later that day he
received a biopsy and the doctors found that the cancer could be treated with
surgery and that he would actually live. This is of course great news to hear,
and he even describes from his wife’s point of view how the doctors were crying
after finding out that the man they just condemned to death was actually going
to live.
In
his final paragraph jobs states his point of the example, saying that life is
limited and have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Some say a
pictures worth a thousand words, but in this case a picture would not be able
to give the same power as the entire written example did for Steve Jobs
argument about making the most out of every moment.
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