David Sedaris, a writer from North Carolina, uses several rhetorical devices in his text "Me Talk Pretty One Day" in order to convey an important experience to his audience. In this text, Sedaris talks about taking a French class and not understanding anything the teacher is saying. He uses pathos by conveying a feeling of hurt when the teacher told Sedaris, "I hate you... I really, really hate you" (lines 120-122). This is a mortifying experience that anyone who went to school can relate to; being scolded, let alone told something so hurtful from someone one looks, like a teacher, up to can make one feel useless and embarrassed. Sedaris also remembers feeling anger at the teacher's unnecessary criticism (lines 101-102). Due to Sedaris' use of pathos, the reader is forced to relate to his feelings and will continue reading.

Sedaris also uses imagery to give as accurate of a description of his experiences and feeling as possible. In lines 3-7, Sedaris states, "I was issued a student ID, which allows me a discount entry fee at... amusement park that advertises with billboards picturing a cartoon stegosaurus sitting in a canoe eating what appears to be a ham sandwich". While this piece of information serves no overall meaning to to the text, it provides details which make the reader envision Sedaris' environment. This particular description of the billboard is also weirdly comical and lightens the mood of the otherwise sad text. Sedaris once again uses imagery in line 150-154 while giving an example of being "...engaged in the sort of conversation commonly overheard in refugee camps". This statement is very negative because of the image that goes along with it; readers imagine malnourished people in dirty tents, awaiting a better life. Sedaris goes on to describe the conversation,"sometimes me cry alone at night... Much work, and someday you talk pretty. People stop hate you soon". Upon imagining this conversation, the reader is heartbroken; these are people who can not communicate to anyone and therefor don't even have a friend to confide in. Sedaris employs imagery to give a detailed description of his feelings and experiences to the reader.

Sedaris brings up the issue of isolation of foreigners who can not speak the language of the country they are in. Being an immigrant myself, I can relate to Sedaris very well. I remember not understanding what was being said in class and instead of helping me, people would either ignore or laugh at me. Even the teachers didn't try to explain things to me. This kind of treatment made me discouraged and I felt like there wouldn't come a day when I could have a conversation with someone again. It is important for native speakers to help foreign student who are struggling with the language. Mastery of a language comes through practice and getting practice is impossible if people constantly shut you out.