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Abstract

This close textual analysis examines the various sections of Danica McKellar's book Math Doesn't Suck through the lens of Burkean identification. This article explores how McKellar, a well-known actress and mathematician, uses Burkean identification to persuade her audience of middle-school-aged girls to learn and enjoy mathematics and to have confidence in their own abilities. Through an analysis of McKellar's writing style, personal testimonials, quotations from celebrities and "real-life" kids, and story problems to which many girls can relate, this article suggests that McKellar connects with her audience, and that in this case, identification works in much the same way that immediacy does in the classroom.

Journal Title

Iowa Journal of Communication

Volume

43

Issue

2

First Page

210

Last Page

224

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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