First Post - Joseph Kwon

Joseph Kwon
Persuasive Writing
October 22, 2008

When constructing an argument, it is vital to build and establish a connection with the audience. Any sort of connection adds another level and dimension to the argument, when developing an argument. There are two specific types of connections a writer should incorporate in his argument. The first type of connection, when constructing an argument should be an emotional connection, which is called pathos. The other type of connection a writer should incorporate and develop is a message and impression that the writer that is worth listening. Every argument should have at least an ethos and pathos in their argument to strengthen it and in result building a more convincing argument.
Pathos is a method using emotional appeal when constructing an argument. Pathos is a powerful way to strengthen the argument, developing convincing argument. Pathos uses a lot of emotionally loaded language, also including emotional and vivid descriptions of various scenarios. Sometimes these examples that the writer includes in the article can be narratives with a strong emotional tone. In all three articles I have selected for this essay, on the topic of lowering the drinking age to eighteen, each article there are examples of the writer using pathos to communicate his point of view to the audience.
In the first article I have selected, US states consider lowering drinking age, by Suzanne Goldenberg, she uses pathos in many different ways to strengthen her argument. The article begins with the main topic stating, “A number of US states are considering legislation to lower the legal drinking age from the current standard of 21 – if only to allow troops coming home from Iraq to drink.” The statement, “if only to allow troops coming home from Iraq to drink”, is an emotional one, giving birth to new question and evoking new emotions. In the article, Fletcher Smith states, “If you can take a shot on the battlefield you ought to be able to take a shot of beer legally.” This is a very powerful and emotional statement by Fletcher Smith, who is an avid supporter of lowering the drinking age to 18, in South Carolina. This is an emotional argument that many people who agree with, and this statement touches on some of the deepest and strongest emotions of a human being. When talking and dealing with emotions, such as patriotism or emotions that evoke death, can instantly capture the reader’s attention, making the reader be more easily convinced by the argument because of such strong emotions. Emotional feelings related to death were evoked towards the end of the article but for the counter argument. In the article it stated that raising the drinking age a generation ago has cut traffic related deaths among people.
In the second article I chose, The right age for drinking; it isn’t 18, whatever some college officials think, we can see examples of ethos in the article that tries convey to the audience that the writer is credible. We as people tend to believe anything that is said by a person you have high regards for or respect intellectually, such as your parents or your professor. Their words are more likely to convince you of an issue, even issues you may have heard the same argument for. That is why it is important to appeal to the reader as likeable and respectful. In this article he says he is part of The Governors Highway Safety Association, a member of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving and was a member of a fraternity when he attended college. These titles or organizations that he is part of are all examples of ethos. All those associations with those different groups builds credibility for the writer, so the audience can have a certain level of trust for the writer. In an argument, where there are facts and assumptions constantly thrown around, it is important for the writer to appear credible, so the reader can take the argument seriously, as it is hard for most people to see the other perspective in an argument. The writer should never seem like they are a newcomer to a topic or subject. The writer should seem like they have an indebt and thorough understanding of a topic or subject, as this will result in a reader that is more open to the views of the other side. Reputation is the key factor when writing an argument, propelled by ethos.
In the third article I chose, there are examples of both pathos and ethos the article incorporates. We can see an example of ethos, with the last sentence in the article stating, “Isn't it time to reconsider all the consequences -- intended and unintended -- of a law that is putting the lives of young adults unnecessarily at risk.” With this statement, the writer is trying to spark some kind of emotion that he can connect to, with every single reader. A question like that can evoke various emotions and other questions that can have an emotional impact. In the article, the writer never incorporates ethos directly in the article to establish his credibility or reputation. At the end of the article we do see a credential or a title of the writer. The writer of the article is the president emeritus of Middlebury College, which is a title that deserve some respect and merits some credibility. It is important to establish some kind of reputation, just like a brand or a product. Household names bring a certain reputation to the table that the consumer can easy identify.
It is very important to try to get to an intimate level with the reader. If a reader connects with the writer and feels like the writer has earned their respect, the argument is now more affective. When the writer also connects with the reader on an emotional level, with both ethos and pathos, the writer has created a unique and powerful argument, that touches and evokes the reader in a way that couldn’t have been possible before.