Sean+M

1. A writer is a person who (as the name so profoundly suggests) has written something. Technically speaking this can vary from a grocery list, to a blog, to a 600-page novel. But the most common use of this word applies to the latter on the previously mentioned list. At that point the word writer then becomes synonymous with the word author. So what is an author? An author is someone skilled in the field of language who has a passion for writing and at least some amount of enduring patience. Being an author is a difficult life, as it is filled with constant rejection and criticism, and pay dependent on the success of one’s creativity. Yet, there are many people on this Earth crazy enough to pursue this career. While many of them will be crushed and walk away disappointed, the few who persist will eventually get a break. -Sean Madsen

2. The Ethos being displayed by Pamela Paul is actually quite minimal. Instead of employing the use of this powerful writing technique she takes other peoples reputation and character and uses those to describe the situation. Ms. Paul goes on to say “Dr. Richard Ferber, [is the] author of the best-selling 1985 book //Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems// ” and then describes what the book discusses and how it has a positive and negative side to Ferber’s technique. She does this with two other authors and to me it seems like she has no real opinion about these sleep techniques discussed in these books. She does say that one of the programs helped her 3 month old sleep and then later in the article she says experimenting with hybrid versions of the programs is helpful. While these seem sincere, I believe they are the only Ethos she uses. She fabricated a character so that the parents reading her article would feel like she had some experience and knowledge in the field of parenting. Yet, once all is said and done I am satisfied knowing I’m not in the same boat, I’m not a parent, and while that may hinder my understanding of the situation it doesn’t hinder me getting sleep at night, which attains more value in my life. -Sean Madsen

3. The New York Times editorial entitled ‘Mad Men’ Crashes Woodstock’s Party by Frank Rich contains a mild amount of Pathos. The author employs some nostalgia by making many references that the baby boomer generation would get. The article covers how the revival of an old TV show ‘Mad Men’ is in essence becoming the replacement for Woodstock. Unfortunately I do not understand many of the references that are made in this article, and therefore I may be interpreting something wrong. However, the Pathos the author does use is quite interesting. He says, “Along the way the first two American soldiers were killed in South Vietnam,” (Rich). The words used to describe this very short yet intensely emotional sentence is very unorthodox. Pejorative language is reserved for rash action on the part of the people, like the Kennedy assassination, while honorific language is used to describe Fred Kaplan’s new book “1959: The Year Everything Changed”. Enargeia is the best of the three Pathos versions used in the article, seeing as it describes situations perfectly, and creates excellent nostalgia. -Sean Madsen