Pathos: Good Reasons appeals to the emotions and deepest held values of the audience"Our judgments when we are pleased and friendly are not the same as when we are pained and hostile."1. Good Reasons' operating assumption. Good Reasons proclaims "Its fundamental conviction that this course teaches skills that students will need not only in school but also in the workplace and as citizens of a participatory democracy" (Instructor's Manual, p. v). If you already believe this, Good Reasons will confirm your confidence. For more reassurance, consider Sandra Stotsky's work. 2. Its utility. Good Reasons looks useful. With its step-by-step approach, lists of tips and tactics, and detailed Instructor's Manual, it is gratifyingly utilitarian and seems likely to work, that is, to achieve its practical goals of helping instructors to teach these skills on a day-to-day basis in the composition classroom, and of helping students to learn them. 3. Its readings. The range of genres (letters, poems, editorials, ads) and topics (the environment, affirmative action, health, political policy) represents high seriousness as well as utility. Scott McCloud's cartoons are here, but so is Gerard Manley Hopkins. This is anything but frivolous edutainment. Particularly welcome is the introductory case study of the success of Silent Spring, Rachel Carson's stylistic and rhetorical triumph. Faigley and Selzer's analysis of how Carson's book changed public policy is a happy conjunction of professional and civic responsibility-- two colleagues modelling exemplary pegaogical behavior and thereby earning our respect and gratitude. Q.E.D. |
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