The United States, Iran, and the Greater Middle East, Essay Example

The United States, Iran, and the Greater Middle Eastsupports the belief that the United States should begin to adopt a policy of neutrality when it comes to participation in war overseas. While it is necessary for the country to remain as a member of world affairs due to its position as one of the most powerful countries in the world, the author, Thomas R. Pickering, claims that there is no reason to engage in warfare because it ends lives without furthering the status of the nation (Pickering 57). This is a highly relevant issue facing the world and American citizens today, as a regular argument is whether or not the United States should be participating in foreign wars and conflicts.

While the essay is effective and clearly used a variety of resources in order to state facts to support claims, it is not a peer reviewed. This essay was originally written as a speech, and as a consequence, no peer review was necessary for it to be released to the public (Pickering 63). It is likely that the essay was edited by others before it was read out loud, however, this does not constitute as peer review. Furthermore, citations are not listed at the end of the essay, so it is difficult to trace the facts used back to their original sources. It appears that the author used the Toulmin method because he analyzes his own arguments in a manner that allows him to prove his point to the audience. Overall, this essay is effective because it appeals to the audience, but it could be made stronger by citing the sources used for information verification.

Works Cited

Pickering TR. The United States, Iran, and the Greater Middle East. 2010. Web. 3 February 2015.