What draws us into an endless cycle of scrolling through content? Why do certain videos hold our attention while others do not? These questions point to the power of rhetorical appeals—ethos, logos, and pathos—in shaping how we engage with the media. Hank Green, a popular content creator focused on science education, skillfully employs these rhetorical strategies to capture and maintain his audience’s attention. Through his use of ethos, he establishes credibility, while logos and pathos appeal to logic and emotion, respectively. In his video on why mosquito bites cause itching, Green effectively engages with viewers, particularly those from the southern United States, by presenting relatable explanations backed by scientific evidence. His rhetorical purpose is clear: to inform his audience in a way that is both compelling and accessible, allowing them to better understand the biological reasons behind the …show more content…
He poses a series of questions that invite the audience to reflect on where the blame should be placed: “Do we blame the body or the bite? Do we blame the mosquito?” By emphasizing that mosquitoes do not bite with the intention of causing harm but rather to survive, Green evokes empathy for the insect, stating, “They’re not doing it to make us itch.” Furthermore, he redirects the blame away from the immune system, noting that it only reacts defensively to the mosquito’s saliva because it perceives it as a threat. This appeal to pathos encourages the audience to understand that neither the mosquito nor the immune system is at fault, as both are simply responding to natural biological processes. While Green’s use of pathos is persuasive in eliciting a sense of understanding and empathy, his effectiveness in utilizing other rhetorical strategies, such as logos or ethos, may not be as