We Can Afford to Give Parents a Break response

Ethos- Jody establishes that she is an expert by mentioning that she collected data for Harvard University. The note at the end of the article also shows that she is the director of the McGill University Institute for health and Social Policy, and the author of a book that is a much more detailed version of the article.

Logos- Jody spends the entire article using specific details that show that the United States can afford to give parents time off. In this way she appeals to logos through examples and statistical data. She also acknowledges counter arguments by talking about different myths that have come back over and over in America. It shows that she considered the opposition in her argument.

Pathos- While Jody does not use pathos to the extent of the other two, she does use it by putting the article within the context of Mother's Day. She could have published it any other day of the year, but by using Mother's Day to her advantage, she connects to the audience without having to put them into a certain mood when reading it.

Einstein letter response

Ethos- Einstein's background of being a physicist immediately gives him credibility to answer the question of whether or not scientists pray. He first explains why scientists likely wouldn't using facts, then explaining why they do.

Logos- Einstein says that scientists would hardly be inclined to believe in influence by prayer, then backs it up with his statement that scientific law is based on the idea that everything that takes place is determined by the laws of nature.

Pathos- Einstein's letter is rather sparse in this area. He doesn't play to emotions, but rather with facts, and focuses on Ethos. It can be noted though that the way that Einstein ends his letter suggests a very friendly relationship with the audience.

The relationship between speaker and audience is also established as that of a teacher and student, where Einstein is explaining the subject as if the student has no prior education in this particular subject, hence asking both if and why, rather than just why.

Overall I feel his response is rhetorically very effective as he is able to connect to the reader with credibility rather than relying too much on emotion.