Week #8

A) After reading Backpacks V. Briefcases written by Laura Bloin Carol, I was able to recognize and learn many different ways rhetoric is used to influence our lives and perspectives. Something that really stood out from this essay to me was the section where Carol speaks about the media and how they use rhetoric. She explained how many times the media uses pathos, to appeal to our emotions and influence our perspective on what is being represented. This is mostly used and effective when companies on the media are trying to sell a product. Something else I learned from Carol’s essay was how important the use of logos is when it comes to the context of grabbing viewers attention. By giving the facts that some viewers may want to see before they make their decision on the given topic, it can make it easier for your viewers to accept what they are viewing.

B) A quote that I found to be interesting from the article is, “An analysis using the rhetorical triangle would ask similar questions about the audience as one using the rhetorical situation, but it would also ask questions about the writer and the purpose of the document. Asking questions about the writer helps the reader determine whether she or he is credible and knowledgeable.” I found this quote to be particularly significant because it represents the purpose of logos, pathos, and ethos: gaining credibility and trust from your audience. It showed that by using rhetoric well, you can earn credibility from your audience and have a strong and influential writing.

C) This article would definitely improve my use of rhetoric. It gave clear examples of how to use rhetoric successfully in your writing in order to earn credibility from your audience and I feel my use of logos, pathos, and ethos can be stronger.