GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsReading ComprehensionMedium
A student is researching the history of the American Civil Rights Movement. She encounters a passage that vividly describes the emotional impact of a protest march, detailing the fear in the faces of the participants, the defiant chants, and the palpable tension in the air. What is the author's primary rhetorical aim in this passage?
- ATo objectively report factual information about the march.
- BTo provide a chronological account of events.
- CTo appeal to the reader's intellect with logical arguments.
- DTo evoke empathy and emotional connection in the reader.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. To evoke empathy and emotional connection in the reader.
The description focuses on 'emotional impact,' 'fear in the faces,' 'defiant chants,' and 'palpable tension,' all of which are designed to make the reader feel what it was like to be there. This directly appeals to emotions, aiming to evoke empathy and connection.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The language is subjective and emotionally charged, not objective reporting.
- B. While it describes an event, the focus is on emotion, not just sequence.
- C. The language is emotional and descriptive, not primarily logical or argumentative.
Rhetorical Effect: Pathos
A rhetorical appeal that aims to persuade an audience by evoking their emotions.
- Uses vivid language and imagery.
- Connects to the audience's values, beliefs, and feelings.
- Often used to create empathy or sympathy.
Memory trick: E.L.P. = Ethos, Logos, Pathos