Ethos, Pathos, Logos, & Toulmin Method Analysis of High school English paper on The Motivation to Self-Actualization, based on Maslow’s theory of the Hierarchy of Needs.
Abstract: This paper consisted on exposing the hierarchal levels of Maslow’s theory to understand what motivates us to fulfill self-actualization, accompanied by textual evidence and personal life events that related to each of these levels, concluding in achieving self-actualization or not.
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Ethos– As a student, my duty was to provide my readers with an in-depth background and explanation of Maslow and his theory on the hierarchy of Needs, requiring me to do my own research at an extended level to provide for this account, becoming knowledgeable enough in the subject; In addition, I was entailed to include evidence from an autobiographical novel and bring forth my personal experience in order to account for this theory.
Pathos– By including a recount of my own life events as a teenager in high school, I was able to appeal to a great majority of my audience, being it that they were students as well. In my description of life events, many would sympathize, and in a way becoming particular to them because they could relate to it at a firsthand level.
Logos– At a glance, it wouldn’t be a challenge for the average person to understand this known theory. It would only be reasonable to follow this pyramid which holds levels, explicitly explained, starting out with very basic needs (Psychological, Safety, Belonging/Love, Esteem Needs) up toward self-actualization(Being Needs). It becomes logical to comprehend that if one of these levels is not entirely met, according to Maslow, they would not reach this last level.
Toulmin Method
Claim: One is able to achieve self-actualization once all of our basic needs have been entirely fulfilled.
Evidence: According to Maslow’s hierarchy, a psychologist dedicated to studying humanistic psychology, “one must fulfill each level at an entirety of 99% in each level” in order to move on up to the next and reach self-actualization.
Warrant: Without being able to recognize that in order to survive we need water, shelter, and food, as part of our psychological needs, as a person one fails to sustain our own life, thus making us unable to fulfill this very first level. Therefore, it only plays out consecutively, if afterward, we are able to recognize our safety which includes our environment around us, home, and family, how safe do we actually feel? Proceeding to Belonging needs, how satisfied are we with our relationships in all aspects? Then us, how/what do we consider ourselves?
Backing: My personal life events were a guide in being able to recognize and fulfill a certain level of this pyramid, and acknowledged when I failed at meeting others. For instance, while I met my psychological and safety needs, I found myself unsatisfied with my belonging needs.
Rebuttal: From my own experience, I was able to witness aspects of my life, the result was an imbalance. According to Maslow, all levels had to be achieved to reach self-actualization but I often found myself within gaps. I met certain levels on different aspects of my life.
Qualifier: If not all levels were followed progressively, self-actualization was not fully met.
Reflection:
By going through these methods of analyzation so far, I’ve come to realize I am able to reason out better in terms of uncovering the artifact in discussion. After being able to use these forms of analysis now in my own writing, I believe that it would really help me include supporting details that will ultimately make my arguments stand with great support, something that I still consider myself weak in. So far, I’ve realized that it would only help me out on my rhetoric because no matter how persuasive I can be as a person, being able to question my own points of view are of great necessity and being able to have an answer to them vital. It serves to expand my “knowledge” on the subject, and thus boost my skills as writer becoming more rational in terms of my content and how it is laid out in form.