ARCS. p. 230 # 1 , 2, & 6 --Establishing Ethos

After reading this section on ethos, I have discovered that the three main things that are critical in establishing ethos are: intelligence and being well-informed, good characater, and goodwill.

#1. The first piece of writing I analyzed was actually written by Daniel Taylor--my research subject for my ethnographic project. Interestingly enough, he is a graduate from Harvard University who is the founder of Future Generations, a local non-profit organization. One of his major publications "Something Hidden Behind the Ranges" (actually a very good book on discovering the "yeti") includes an introduction which establishes his ethos.

Intro
He establishes his experience in the opening sentence. "In the course of my life in the Himalaya I ran a river..." He goes on by saying that his expedition was the first successful one of many that had failed in trying to find the Abominable Snowman. He establishes that he is experienced and he was present first-hand.

The second paragraph (and third) details the geography of the Himalaya and the rivers that intersect it. It specically names the region where the most yeti footprints have been seen. This text serves to show the audience the author's intelligence of the area.

He explains why he is interested in searching for the yeti, in the first place. He says that "The Himalaya of my youth became the background for comprehanding the yeti story that had so fascinated me...It also first made me think about biological resilence, in species and even ecosystems, and especially the resilience of the human species." This tells the audience he is not just another one of those people trying to write a book on the infamous Abominable Snowman to gain fame or money. It establishes his curiosity and concern for the environment, which strengthens his good character and goodwill.

Throughout the introduction, he talks about his respect for his fellow passengers on the boat, espeically after one saved his life. He states "Such gifts form friends". This helps his character by sustaining that he is a thoughtful and thankful person that values friendship (that might be irrelevant to the point, but I think it is relevant to state any quaility that would strengthen the author's character; thereby establishing good overall ethos.

#2. The author uses the first-person voice, using words like "I" and "We". This helps the readers feel as if they were experiencing the journey with alongside the author. He employs the use of qualifiers fairly often with phrases like: virtually all of the reports, most of the yeti. While the word size is not overly complex, the tone is still conveyed through use of colorful adjectives and well-written sentences to be targeted to a wide range of readers. This creates a very suitable informal tone, which allows anyone from an educated proffesor to a high school student to be able to read it. He uses the active voice predominately.



#1. The second text I analyzed was a NY Times article by Andrew Revkin on "Global Warming" (Summer 2007). The opening paragraph establishes that he was, in fact, there at the very location at the heart of the global warming concerns--the Artic Islands. He is standing there with an acclaimed snow scientist, who is telling him about his concerns and work throughout his life. This establishes his credentials as a proximate witness and someone who's obviously very interested in the subject. The reporter demonstrates his intelligence by "doing the homework" as described in the reading.

Goodwill is established through the concern for future generations that would be affected by global warming. By acknowledging his own generation would not be affected, Rifkin tells the audience (indirectly) that he is a caring, thoughtful, unselfish person.

#2. Rifkin uses words like alternately, could, most, for 20 years, and enormously to connect with the audience the devasting implications that could arise through global warming.
"McConnell, 49, an expert on the world’s frozen places, is from—of all places—the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada." The use of the dash sets the phrase off to make it sound like a midthught, or possibly afterthought." It is written in first-person with using the word "I" frequently.


#1. The third text was another part of the Global Warming article and this time Revkin was reporting from Pasadena, California. As in the previous article in the Artic Islands, he states that he is "standing in a lab at California Institute of Technology." He is watching them try to create solor power. This establishes that he is witnessing the scene first-hand and that he's very interested in the subject area.


He establishes his good moral standing, by referencing top, experienced scientists and their thought's on the progress toward alternative energy sources. He doesn't just state that the government has not been consistent or generous enough in funding the research for energy alternatives. He backs his claims up by citing the specific years funding was in the proposed budgeted plan vs. the realites of the funding that actually came through. Instead of 30 million dollars, only 8 million was approbated.

#2. The voice is first-person with the use of "I and we". "The challenge of shifting to new energy options is made vastly more difficult..." Vastly serves a good qualifier because it creates more emphasis on the problem. Mostly the active voice is used, but the passive voice can be seen in certain sentences, "in the end, only $8 million was authorized by Congress in 2007".


#6. Here is an example of a letter that would be used from a teacher to her students in the 1st and 2nd person voice. The 2nd person voice is essential because her primary goal is to instruct her students what to do.

Dear Students,

We will be meeting to discuss revisions of our research papers on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week--11/23. E-mail me to set up a time for an appointment. The finals revisions will be due during Dec. 8th at 5:00 p.m.

Thank you,
Sandy Smith