In the article “A Million First Dates: How Online Romance Threatens Monogamy,” written by Dan Slater and published in The Atlantic in January 2013, Slater uses a character named Jacob to discuss how online dating and the availability of so many new potential partners at our fingertips threatens today's relationships. Not only that, Slater also gives several reasonings on how online dating changes a person. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The story begins with the introduction of the main character, Jacob. After being single after college and eventually investing time in a committed relationship, which ultimately didn't work out, Jacob decided to sign up for two online dating sites, Plenty of Fish and Match.com. The story delves deeper into the issues surrounding Jacob's experience with online dating. Slater explains how Jacob went from being single and looking forward to a long-term committed relationship, to being interested in multiple women and only wanting the physical aspect of the relationship. Slater then delves deeper into Jacob's personal feelings that go along with this. Personally, I believe there is an important argument and thesis in Slater's article. Speaking about his new book Love in the Age of Algorithms, he discusses his argument “…the rise of online dating will lead to an overall decrease in engagement.” Through the use of evidence and rhetorical appeals, I find Slater's article effective in more ways than one, but the article could have used stronger evidence and pulled from stronger, more credible sources. Slater immediately appeals to the audience. With the use of Jacob, a very likeable thirty-something who has experienced the difficulties of the college dating scene, the film immediately appeals to a specific audience. Using a narrative essay, it uses specific, sensory details to engage the audience in certain elements and sequences of Jacob's story. In this article, the specific audience that Slater's article is aimed at is adults in their twenties and thirties, as well as people who may use online dating as their primary source of meeting potential partners. With the use of a narrative, the tone appears to be conversational, with the article written in the third person. This allows the audience to better understand Slater's argument. In Slater's article are several illustrations created by R. Kikuo Johnson. These are very effective in argumentation and appeal to the audience. Each illustration created supports the arguments presented above by Slater. For example, the main illustration that opens the article (on page forty), a man who I suspect is Jacob, is on a date with a woman. Under the table, Jacob can be seen on his phone using a dating app. This illustration could correspond to a statement made on page forty-six: "When dating a woman, he must silence text messages from others. He needs to start reducing the number of women he sees. The illustration on page forty-three goes hand in hand with certain statements and actions made by Jacob. “After two years, when Rachel informed Jacob she was moving, he logged onto Match.com that same day.” I suspect that Slater used visual aids to help his audience connect to the argument. Each visual aid made the argument clearer. Dan Slater does not neglect the possible arguments. Slater raises a possible objection topage forty-two with the statement ":The Internet makes it easier for singles to meet other singles with whom they might be compatible, thus raising the bar for what they consider to be a good relationship." » Slater also includes Alex Mehr, co-founder of Zoosk, who Slater says "is the only executive I've interviewed who disagrees with the prevailing opinion." Mehr sees online dating sites simply as a new way of discovery. "'Online dating does nothing more than remove a barrier to meeting,' says Mehr. "Online dating doesn't change my tastes, or the way I behave on a first date, or whether I'm going to be a good partner. This just changes the discovery process as to whether you're the type of person who wants to commit to a long-term monogamous relationship or the type of person who wants to play the field. , online dating has nothing to do with it It's all about personality Finally, Slater uses a quote on page forty-six that says, "The Internet has allowed people to communicate and connect... in a way that has never been seen before." His rebuttal, however, appears to rely on evidence from various sources throughout his article. The structure Slater uses is very effective. mentioned above grabs the attention of the readers which makes the article memorable in that sense. From the beginning of the article, Slater uses rhetorical appeals very effectively. The first pathetic pull is the use of Jacob. Slater uses Jacob to help present his argument that online dating can change a person. When Slater describes the relationships of Jacobs's friends, but also compares his relationships to theirs, readers may feel a pang and feel bad for the protagonist. It's also very relevant in the sense that Jacob had some luck when he first used dating sites, so readers considering these sites might think they should try them. The last word pathos, which is also a good usage of Kairos, is the last sentence of the article and the last mention of Jacob. Jacob says, “Maybe now I have the confidence to go after the person I really want,” he says. 'But I'm afraid I'll make it so I can't fall in love.' (Slater, 46) » As it is the last sentence, it makes the readers think and puts not only Jacob's situation in the readers' minds, but the entire article in question. This makes a person think about the role that online dating sites play on individuals' relationships and love lives. “A Million First Dates” continues to emotionally hook readers, and then Slater provides his reasoning and evidence. Most of its credibility is established thanks to the founders of several dating sites, a divorce lawyer and member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers named Gilbert Feibleman, a university professor of psychology named Eli Finkel, to eHarmony relationship psychologist Gian Gonzaga, and finally Justin Parfitt, a San Francisco-based dating entrepreneur. It also uses a survey titled “How Has Internet Dating Changed Society?” » published by Mark Brooks. While these sources might be credible, I feel like more credible sources could have been used. Most of these sources were more opinion based and gave informed viewpoints. Although Slater's argument, personally, was effective through the use of rhetorical appeals, his argument could have come across as a more grounded opinion.