Molly Worthen's Use Of Ethos Pathos Logos

In recent years, college students have started to address professors informally and inappropriately disregard the academic status entitled to professors and college faculty. As professors, such academic entitlement earned from years of dedication to knowledge and education requires a certain amount of respect and acknowledgement. Molly Worthen and Lisa Wade share their thoughts and opinions regarding this matter and how students should alter their behaviour to meet the needs of recognizing professionalism and promoting academic credentials within a prestigious academic setting. This discussion of academic etiquette leads both authors to use a variety of rhetorical techniques within their works to show their target audience the importance of

One of the techniques that the authors incorporated within their works is the rhetorical appeal logos. Logos is a rhetorical appeal that focuses on convincing an audience through logical appeals, often using statistics and data. (Cite Professor) Worthen provides a report conveying the increased incivility and inappropriate behaviour conducted within a college class. “Sociologists who surveyed undergraduate syllabuses from 2004 and 2010 found that in 2004, 14 percent addressed issues related to classroom etiquette; six years later, that number had more than doubled, to 33 percent.” (cite) With the provision of credible statistics, Worthen uses logos to clarify the increasing severity of this particular issue to her audience. The author logically incorporated this report at the beginning of her work to further illuminate the concerns of this issue and provide substantial support for her claim. This use of logos contributes to the effectiveness of Worthen’s article because it entices the audience to consider the notability of her

Ethos is a rhetorical appeal that focuses on convincing an audience through the use of status, such as the use of credible sources or influential people. (cite professor) Worthen includes an interview with Lyndah Lovell, “a graduating senior at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg,” to assert the positive response of a college student regarding the practice of proper social conventions. “Insisting on traditional etiquette is also simply good pedagogy...they [students] just don’t know they should otherwise - no has bothered to explain it to them. Explaining the rules of professional interaction is not an act of condescension; it’s the first step in treating students like adults.” This explanation depicts ethos because Worthen directly associates with her target audience by using a college student as a credible source. Ms. Lovell’s response assists the development of these supportive details which establish understanding and approval of the author’s thesis. The application of ethos contributes to Worthen’s development of a compelling argument and confirms the applicability of her article to the audience. Wade’s article utilizes ethos by illustrating a professor’s general response to the dilemma of handling inattentive students. “Don’t ask the professor if you “missed anything important” during an absence...We’re college professors! Thinking everything we do is important