In “Wal-Mart vs. Pyramids”, Laura Carlsen questions the super franchises business tactics and opposes their attempt to build on the sacred, holy land that was once Teotihuacan. In her argument, Carlsen suggest that building in this area would infringe on the country’s cultural heritage, one that goes back thousands of years. Laura Carlsen gives a compelling argument against Wal-Marts’ practices in Mexico by displaying effective uses of ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as her successful use of other rhetoric appeals.
Pathos in persuasive writing involves engaging the readers’ emotion. In the article, Carlson’s use of pathos is clearly present. She uses phrases such as “phenomenal takeover”, “commercial conquest”, “alleged discrimination”, and “cultural insensitivity” to describe Wal-Mart. These are powerful words of rhetoric in the sense that this language is used to a pick a side, one against the Wal-Mart franchise. These statements also arouse emotion by personifying the company as an empire, per say, overtaking territories everywhere. This, along with the use of language, such as discrimination and insensitivity, clearly evoke a negative outlook on Wal-Mart. Carlson is also able to conjure up anger amongst the reader by showing how Wal-Mart could care less for the land they are building on, as workers “had orders to hide any archaeological relics they found.” By presenting a side for her audience to take and her jab at Wal-Mart, Laura is able to appeal to the reader’s emotion and successfully includes pathos in her persuasive argument.
Logos is a persuasive tool used to determine the logic within an argument. What evidence does the writer have for the position he or she has taken. In Wal-Mart vs. Pyramids, Carlsen des...
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...es the argument strongly and powerfully.
Overall, Carlsen is able to provide a convincing case against Wal-Mart and their latest “step in a phenomenal takeover of Mexico’s supermarket sector.” She conveys multiple rhetoric devices and is able to do so in a relatively short article. Though Laura effectively uses the three primary persuasive appeals logos, pathos, and ethos throughout the piece, her argument is most successful when she takes a more direct approach in reaching her target audience, saying “The dispute is not a battle between past and future. It is a struggle over a country’s right to define itself.” She also states Wal-Mart’s practices interfere with on the country’s “contemporary integrity” by constructing on the ancient site. Her tone, along with her use of various rhetoric appeals, contributes to creating an effective and successful argument.
Logos means the persuading by the use of reasoning. For example, “ No one even knows whether salmon can even survive in the lower San Joaquin, which has temperatures more suitable for bass and bluegill, (McEwen 1).” The quote is clearly a display of logos because the author demonstrates to the reader that the government does not even make sure the salmon can survive in the lower San Joaquin, which then convinces the reader the project is not well thought out and cannot be trusted. I agree with the author’s viewpoint because if the government was really interested in the benefits for people, the representatives would have looked into all the details necessary to be able to succeed with the project. Another example of the author stating logos on his article for the reader to get a better understanding of what the government really cares for is, “Besides, scientific evidence suggests that California’s salmon problems have been caused in large part by oceanic conditions and the environmental mess that is the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta (McEwen 1).” This quote is an alternative representation of logos since it proves a fact. The fact makes the reader extra believable since he uses scientific evidence about California’s salmon problems. It is clear to me the position that is superior to the other one because there have been numerous studies proving this project will
For instance, they claim that MagnaSoles are “popular among consumers” (52-53). This use of luring pathos is creating a situation where the reader recognizes themselves as a consumer and that they should be conforming to also like the product. This is exactly what the speaker wants the reader to feel. This need to conform is a clear highlight to The Onion’s purpose of exposing how easy it is for advertisers to make a consumer buy in to the product. Additionally, the speaker puts the reader in a vulnerable position when a user of the product says to “try to prove that Magnasoles didn’t heal me!” (61-62). This is used to make the reader feel like this user of the product. The user thinks the product is great and he even goes as far to challenge the reader to find problems with his claims. If he is challenging the reader than more often than not the reader will just accept what is said and believe it. Once again The Onion mocks how consumers often feel when addressing a product’s claims. The seductive pathos allows for proof that consumers believe anything when they are tested to conform and believe
Velazquez concludes that “from clothes to computers… , no American child is immune from the underlying suggestion that owning these things defines success. While the message of excess materialism is toxic for all our children, it is especially cruel for the one out of six American children living in the poverty” (769). The phrase “no American child” indicates that Velazquez is biased when she discusses large corporations’ influences on children. Her tone suggests that she is against material possessions. She finds them toxic and that is how she draws her comparison to the toxicity of the corporations. This use of rhetoric conveys that Velazquez exaggerates the negative effect of large corporations’ products. She ignores the initial purpose, when these large corporations invent technology, is to make people’s lives more convenient and help people to sort their problems, which can only be done with machines. The location of waste seems like a minor issue in comparison to all the great benefits that come with the products of these large
Pathos is the appeal to an audience’s emotion. Aside from the other two appeals that I have outlined in this essay, pathos is by far the most recognizable appeal in Lamott’s article. The humorous tone of the article is very easily recognized and frankly, it is hard not to laugh at some of Lamott’s uncalled-for sarcastic remarks (whether it be in your head or out loud). For example, when writing about how every writer she knows never writes an elegant first draft, she continues, “All right, one of them does, but we do not like her very much. We do not think that she has a rich inner life or that God likes her or can even stand her” (1). By making such presumptuous claims about this person, some audiences might find this type of language comical or entertaining, which in turn makes them want to believe Lamott and continue reading. In a way this helps Lamott seem credible to some readers, in which case she has created a successful argument. On the other hand, some readers might find this kind of language unprofessional and inappropriate. Because much of the article deals with language that is full of humor and sarcasm, it would make sense to say that Lamott has directed this article towards an audience who is looking for something more entertaining than a typical statistic-filled essay that one might consider mainstream in this field. Whether it be entertaining or absurd, Lamott most definitely uses the appeal of pathos in her
Effectively communicating an idea or opinion requires several language techniques. In his study of rhetoric, Aristotle found that persuasion was established through three fundamental tools. One is logos, which is used to support an argument through hard data and statistics. Another is ethos, which is the credibility of an author or speaker that allows an audience to conclude from background information and language selection a sense of knowledge and expertise of the person presenting the argument. The impact of pathos, however, is the most effective tool in persuasion due to the link between emotions and decisions. Although each of these tools can be effective individually, a combination of rhetorical devices when used appropriately has the ability to sway an audience toward the writer’s point of view.
By appealing so much to pathos, his letter focuses more on emotionally convincing and persuading the reader to accept his claim, rather than providing facts and logic to his argument. His combined use of logos and ethos also adds an aspect of logic and reason to his argument, as well as further showing his credibility and connection to the subject as the author. His use of the three rhetorical devices helps to bolster and support his claim, while also personalizing and connecting with the
Authors have many strategies when it comes to winning over their readers and on some occasions may even target their opponents, to make them look bad, in an attempt to make themselves look better. In the articles by Steve Greenberg and Michael Weinreb we will look at the way authors constrict articles to get readers to side with opinion by appealing to a person through logos, pathos, ethos, and the use of rhetorical devices. Greenberg use of a logical fallacy, using a rhetorical device against his friend, and his own use of rhetorical devices in order to convince reader through by ethos of how awful his friend and cardinal fans are, while Weinreb focuses on logos, a logical fallacy, and rhetorical devices to strengthen
In this paper I am going to discuss the rhetorical appeals, as well as the argumentative structure, audience and purpose set forth by George W. Bush in his September 27 speech in Flagstaff, Arizona. More specifically I will refer to the rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos and logos, and explain how they are used to gain the support and attention of the audience and further the further the purpose of the speech. As I explain these appeals I will also give an insight into the argumentative structure and why it is apparent in this particular speech.
Over the past 20 years, the nature of the American retailing market has changed dramatically, going from Mom and Pop's boutiques to mega retail stores like Wal-Mart. Especially in the last decade, Sam Walton's discount stores have proliferated in almost every city across the United States and Canada. But the opinions about the effects of Wal-Mart in small towns divide the rural population in two groups. Through economic, cultural and social arguments, the anti-Wal-Mart activists and the advocates defend their point of view about the expansion of the store in small communities.
Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the U.S and it is the largest private employer in Mexico. So, Wal-Mart is the jewel of its global business empire. According to the blockbuster report in New York Times on 21 April 2012 by David Barstow, he stated that Wal-Mart involved in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act scandal. Wal-Mart didn’t successful in dominating the Mexican market as it almost certainly in violation of U.S and Mexican Law. September 2005, a former commercial real estate executive of Wal-Mart de Mexico who is Sergio Cicero (resigned in 2004) had blew the whistle on a massive bribery scheme that help in the explosive growth in the Central American country by officials to speed up permits and ignore laws. Instead of an independent outside counsel, investigation is being control by an internal Wal-Mart team.
In Maureen O’Doughterty’s Consumption Intensified, “the dual vision” of the “immediate reality of crisis and the desired reality of the First World” is shown to have shaped middle class consciousness and desire, and further deepen the marks of division within this “heterogeneous” middle class (O’Doughterty 15, 5). “Transnational consumption, in the form of travel experiences, especially to Disney World, and consumption of imported goods” is a surprising social construction of value and rank, and expresses the influence of a foreign ideal on Brazilian social identity (23). Sustained comfortable living, and superiority over another class of people, was desperately appealing to many Brazilian families in the throes of the economic crisis, as demonstrated by the commodification of a Disney experience in the United States through bought and displayed goods, and the suggestion of expense that goes with it. The suggestion of expense and wealth throughout the crisis shaped the new concept of a Brazilian middle class “character,” a quality of living that could not be removed by an instable economy and loss of existing values. The presentation and propagation of this “character” was an extension of the old lush life prior to the crisis, and a dogged determination to hold to “traditional values.”
...pathos is used as the most persuasive form to support the text of the advertisement.
Owens and Sawhill use pathos to evoke the feelings of their readers. This method establishes
Indeed, while there is conspicuous economic gain in the U.S., grassroots boycott can affect the approach of multinational corporations by eschewing products that are made by exploited workers and avail reduce self-eradication of the overall global imperil. These acts John Perkins presented, which include: cutting back on shopping and oil consumption,seek truth in every government related topic, and the awareness of products that weren’t made here in the U.S. Through the purchases you make everyday, a consumer creates an economy where child labor and sweatshops cease to exist, also having the power to influence and control great companies. After all: why not join the movement in creating a better system?
...emergence of consumer or multinational capitalism. In many ways, its formal features express the deeper logic of this social system. We need only think of the way our sense of history has disappeared, of how our entire contemporary social system has little by little begun to lose its capacity to retain its own past. We live in a perpetual present. We might say that the media help us forget the past (pp. 204-05). I have discussed two features of postmodernism--the transformation of reality into images and the fragmentation of time into a series of perpetual presents. In this way, then, postmodernism replicates or reproduces or reinforces the logic of consumer capitalism (p. 205).