Sunday, November 16, 2014

TOW #10 Article Analysis


            This article is reporting in the recent execution of a Syrian aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig. A recent video released by Syrian militants showed a man with a hood over his head being killed, further investigation confirmed that this man was indeed Kassig. This article while reporting on appeals to pathos to turn the readers against the Syrian militants and convince the reader’s that the militant’s motives are pure evil. This article provides several images of Kassig and his family. These photos are interspersed throughout the article to elicit an emotional response from the readers. The photos of Kassig’s parents are meant to make the reader believe that these militants are malicious and mean to tear families apart. The author also includes words from Kassig’s parents. Some of these are meant to make the reader feel pity for his parents. His parent’s talk about his legacy saying, "Today we grieve together, yet we also recall that the indomitable spirit of goodness and perseverance that burned so brightly in Abdul-Rahman Kassig," These quotes appeal to pathos and make the readers feel bad for their loss. Their other testimonies are meant to show resilience, his parent’s are quoted saying, "We are incredibly proud of our son for living his life according to his humanitarian calling," they said, "We will work every day to keep his legacy alive as best we can,” these quotes are meant to think that no matter the adversity, it will be overcome with hope. This article quotes President Obama when he says that it was an, “act of pure evil by a terrorist group that the world rightly associates with inhumanity". The fact that this came from the president of the United States gives the speaker automatic ethos, and appeals to pathos to make the reader think that it is an act of pure evil.

No comments:

Post a Comment