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20: The Big Why and Pathos by Viggy Alexandersson

  • Page ID
    289133
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    Introduction

    This module emphasizes the use of pathos in persuasive writing for social justice, focusing on its emotional appeal to evoke empathy and motivate action. It describes a classroom activity where students define "pathos," discuss its role, and consider its application in their writing. The text also offers guidelines for enhancing the introduction of social justice essays by incorporating rhetorical elements and a clear thesis, and includes an assessment rubric for evaluation.

    Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) Present in This Module: 

    1. Engage in a recursive process of prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading

    2. Engage in a reflective process of evaluating their own drafts and those of others

    3. Employ a voice, style, and tone appropriate to the topic selected and the rhetorical situation

    4. Direct an argument or explanation to the designated audience

    5. Establish a clear framework of essay and paragraph organization appropriate to the writing task and the thesis

    6. Employ rhetorical strategies consistent with the purpose of the writing task

    8. Incorporate reasoning and explanations appropriate to the thesis and its supporting claims

    • 20.1: The Big Why and Pathos (Reading/Media)
      This page discusses pathos as a persuasive writing technique that engages emotions, fostering personal connections and empathy in social justice research. It highlights how emotional appeal can make topics relatable and inspire readers to take action, stressing the significance of heartfelt communication in advocating for social justice causes.
    • 20.2: The Big Why and Pathos (Classroom Activity)
      This page describes a structured activity for students to engage with the concept of pathos in research writing. It involves creating a lexicon entry for "pathos," sharing and clarifying it with peers, and individual reflection on "Big Why" questions to enhance emotional appeal in their writing. The activity concludes with a case study discussion on integrating pathos into a thesis, underlining its significance in research, along with prompts for further reflection on their topics.
    • 20.3: The Big Why and Pathos (Assignment)
      This page provides guidelines for expanding the introduction of a social justice research essay from 250 to 375 words. It stresses the importance of incorporating rhetorical elements—kairos, ethos, pathos, and logos—and mandates a thesis outlining four argumentation methods. A rubric is included to assess clarity of the topic, development of the position, quality of organization, clarity of writing, and compliance with formatting standards.


    20: The Big Why and Pathos by Viggy Alexandersson is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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