pathos and ethos

Ethos and pathos are extremely essential in an argument that is trying to persuade a view. Authors need to involve ethos and pathos to engage their audience. You to write or express you view in a style that suits the audience. If you appeal to their needs and wants, then you can get you point across easier. The author’s responsibilities include using the right wording, language, and use tools that will build their argument. An author must be willing to be courteous to other opinions. As for our government or media, I would say that for the most part they live up to these expectations. Of course there are a few cases that don’t show the quality that is needed, but the majority of them do. They use knowledgeable facts to create credibility to their statements and they accept that people are not going to have the same views they do. Applying the certain things you must have to be credible and reliable in an argument connects the gap between the view and the audience.

Pseudo-argument

My pseudo-argument happened in Spanish last week when we had a debate between dogs and cats. My position in the argument was that cats were better than dogs. Cats are more independent than dogs and do not require as much care. It costs less to have a cat. Cats do not have to be walked, be picked up after, or need constant attention. It is hard to defend either one of these views. Cats can be better than dogs and dogs can be better than cats. It all depends on what the topic is. I could hold a position for either of the two. There is not one right answer to this argument. You are comparing two completely different things that both have good qualities. That is why they are called pseudo-arguments. It is because you can defend both side and not come to a final conclusion that one is better than the other.

Pathos in Argument

Pathos or the Greek word for suffering or experience has a great impact in the core of an argument. As a reader you must be able to understand and feel what the writer has written for you. You want to be engaged in the writer’s emotions and feelings to better comprehend what he wants you (the reader) to get from the passage. Pathos allows people to get to know their imagination and makes the audience appreciate the conflict in a more in-depth enjoyment. This is the audience section of the triangle. Writers want to have the reader involved in their writing and to do so they must engage you at the beginning of their story. Pathos addresses the readers’ wants and appeals to their emotions. It is the most important thing in an argument that is trying to persuade a view. You must relate to the audience to get them to agree with you.

AP English Exam

After reading the course description section for AP English this year, I feel good overall about it. I am not scared by the exam, but I do believe it will be very challenging. The sample multiple-choice section seemed to be all right for me. I do not think I will do poorly on this section. I like having a list of possible answers then choosing the best one from the list. It is probably why I like math, because their can only be one correct answer. As for the essay section, I am little more worried about it. I don’t think I do as well on essays as I do for multiple-choice questions. This can be a problem considering that the essays count for 55% of the exam. However, I feel that I will score high on the exam. I will do my best and hope for a 5 on it.

Torture

I believe that torture should be legalized and allowed in certain situations. Michael Levin makes some really good points in the handout from class. It is better to torture or kill a few people, then to let hundreds or thousands of innocent civilians die. Torturing people is not done to just humiliate certain people. It is a form of obtaining needed information from criminals who refuse to release that needed info.

Levin gives examples in the handout of why we should use the torture method, but he also explains that torture is barbaric and we should not stoop to that level. I do believe that torture is inhumane, but it is necessary for specific situations. As Levin states, “Mass murder is far more barbaric. If you caught the terrorist, could sleep nights knowing that millions died because you couldn’t bring yourself to apply the electrodes.”

People die everyday in this world. If one person must die or be harmed, so that others will survive action must be taken. Torture is needed in our judicial system. We must use any method necessary to save the lives of the innocent.

Genres in Arguments

In our book, “Writing Arguments”, there are two different examples of the same view on genetically engineered foods. The two of express the same feelings about this topic. They both believe that “GE” foods are bad. Even though they are alike there are two differences between them. They are genre and topic.

The first example is a political cartoon. A “hippie” is shown with an ear of genetically altered corn. He is waving it in the face of a starved tribal boy. He states that the boy does not want the corn, because it has been genetically engineered. This represents a visual argument. There is only one side to it and the topic is directed to GE food all together. The other example is the advertisement of a tomato can. There is writing on the can about labeling foods correctly and then below is a paragraph on properly labeling GE foods. This is a public affairs advocacy advertisement. The topic is narrowed down from genetically engineered foods to how they should have labels on them to warn customers.

Genre is a major part of arguments. The style in which you present your opinions can decide whether people will take your side or not. Factual support is must in these scenarios. Usually cartoons will not be taken seriously.

Explicit vs. Implicit

Arguments do not always have to have hatred involved in them. In fact most arguing is quite enjoyable and stimulates us to think critically. Arguing helps people persuade the audience towards a way of thinking or to bring them into agreance on a topic.

There are two types of arguments. One is explicit and the other is implicit. Explicit arguments consist of direct claims that are aided by evidence and reason. Implicit arguments are completely different. They are usually short stories, poems, or photographs. Implicit arguments express their opinions in a more emotional way instead of direct facts. Examples of this type presented in our text are the Veterans Day Photograph and the poem by Wilfred Owen. All though these two are implicit, they express their point of view in completely different mediums.

In the picture you can feel the compassion between the soldier and the veteran, even though there are no words. The poem explains the scene of a mustard gas attack and a soldier dying in pain. Explicit tells you details and is right to the point. Implicit lets you decide the point of view from the piece. There are no stated facts or “explicit” statements. There is no commonality between the two arguments except they both are out to get a point across.