Title: Heaven Is For Real
Author: Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
Section 2 Read: Chapters 10-18 (Pgs 47-98)
This section of the reading is the concluding pages of the original event the 3-year-old Colton endures when his abdomen experiences a life-threatening emergency involving his appendix and excess abscess that needed to be cleaned out. The beginning of this section reveals Colton is getting better after his first surgery, but then when the parents are about to walk out the hospital doors to finally take their little boy home the doctor yells for them to stop; new problems have came up. Apparently a second surgery would be needed. As Colton has a second bout of problems his parents are literally dying on the inside, and when he finally gets better and is actually problem-free they take him home.
It is after this when Colton begins to speak religiously and speak of Jesus and of his importance. As a 3-year-old Colton knows virtually nothing of the sort, pre-school sunday school does not teach details about the bible. Yet soon, Colton is revealing that he has actually seen heaven, he has seen Jesus, he has seen the baby his mother once lost in a miscarriage before he was born, and he has met family that died before he was even born. This section of the book is Colton revealing everything he has seen and experienced when he left his body when he was in the hospital and visited God and Jesus in heaven. Colton reveals that Jesus told Colton he needed to go back to answer the prayers of his father, and the family is frozen with astonishment as Colton continues tell stories of God and the bible that he could never have possibly known on his own. Therefore he must be telling the truth because of the validity of his answers to every direct question.
The purpose for this section of the book is to show how the author (Colton's father) was convinced that his son was telling the truth. To convey to the audience that if a Pastor was convinced of this actions then it is a pretty valid argument for the audience to believe in it as well. I believe the author is credible because all of the information is primary information and there are also other witnesses to back up everything his father has written about in this book. The context of this section is Colton's revelations about his experience and the family's need to document every word in order to show the world of the miracles God really does perform.
Rhetorical Devices Used:
Credible Quotes: The author has listed quotes from the bible that back up everything Colton has explained and described. These quotes show that Colton is telling the truth and not just making things up on the spot.
Ethos: Ethos is used because the author has credible in this situation because his son is the main point of the entire book. Having first-hand information in this case makes ethos a valid rhetorical device for this book.
Logos: Logos is used when Colton expresses everything he sees in heaven. He says things that Jesus told him to do and what to say and what the truth is about different events. And since everything he says can be proven by the bible quotes offered by the father who is a pastor and the author in this case, then it is logical to believe everything Colton offers to the table.
The purpose of the author was achieved because it clearly shows his belief in his son and that everything his son says is true and believable. By showing the audience that be believes his own son he proves to the audience and to his readers that they will be able to believe his son as well.
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