After the refusal of service by an insurance agent because of lack of detail, the author, a brick layer, uses a formal tone to give more information on the accident, yet making the insurance agent seem dumb.
First of all, the author’s rhetorical structure is a process. Using the process structure the author was able to explain how the accident occurred step by step. The accident explained in the letter was also in chronological order so that anyone who would read the letter would understand what was going on in order by time. This step by step organization also allowed the author to write-in all details, to make sure not to leave any facts or details out. This way the insurance agent would have all information needed, and wouldn’t refuse service again or ask for any more information.
Secondly, the author’s diction proved to the insurance agent that just because the victim is a brick layer that it doesn’t mean that he’s unintelligent. So the brick layer starts his letter by saying “Dear Sir:” showing etiquette, respect, and intelligence. Then again the brick layer goes on saying “I trust the following details will be sufficient;” when he says I trust, its formal and classy, and using the word sufficient (and not enough) says this is more than what is needed (when enough is just barely meeting a required amount). Another part in the letter the author tells the agent to refer to a fact already given twice, meaning the author had repeated the facts to show the agent, “hey look now, since you didn’t quite get it the first time.”
Lastly, the imagery of the accident is perfectly given in the letter. The brick layer describes his being jerked up and off the roof of the building. He then goes on to describe his rapid descent onto the ground off of this six-story building (he was working on). Then he trails off in the last paragraph after he fell and laid there on the ground to imply that that was all that was needed, so we can all picture what happens after that....