This essay will analyze the rhetorical situation of “Our Own Warrior Princess”. It will also explore the main themes in the article. Maureen Dowd tells the story of Dowd’s niece Jennifer’s courage in donating her organs. Dowd achieved her goal by using SOAPStone to use pathos.
Dowd’s ability to rationalize the donation of organs was due to her understanding of her audience. The audience is a key factor when writing articles that are persuasive. It is important to take into account the audience when writing persuasive articles. Pathos is an important part of “Our Own Warrior Princess”, and it’s a powerful tool for persuasion. It is clear that she wanted to invoke feelings like empathy. This suggests her audience was inclined to help.
Dowd used pathos to rationalize the donation of organs. Pathos has proven to be a very effective rhetorical tool. Dowd uses details to make readers feel connected to the story of her niece. This pathos use was excellent because it had a lasting impression on her readers. Dowd successfully invokes empathy, and her audience is influenced to agree with Dowd’s views. She said, “We don’t often see live donors”, she added “not many people can be that generous”. Dowd was smart to mention this, as it shows how many people are afraid to donate organs. “On Michel’s Birthday on Friday, I printed out the card, filled it in… Jennifer was brave to do it while alive. How can I be afraid to do it when I am dead?” Dowd said that donors are not subject to extreme pain or risk of health problems, so it’s worth trying to save the lives of others. “One donation can save as many as eight lives”. This statistic is a powerful motivator for her audience to donate blood.
Dowd used ethos to rationalize the donation of organs. Ethos can also be used rhetorically to appeal directly to the audience, in order to convince them that organ donations are a morally acceptable option. Dowd utilizes ethos for the entire article. “More that 80,000 Americans wait for organ donation and the majority will not get one”. Dowd is successful with her ethos, because she’s able reach the audience to make them feel right or wrong. She also shows how many people have organs waiting. Every year, 17 people of all races, ethnicities and genders die in the United States due to a lack of organ donations. This statement is very powerful and can convince readers to donate organs.
Dowd used logos to rationalize the donation of organs. Logos are the final rhetorical device to relate to logic, reason and evidence. Dowd effectively uses logos by using statistics to convince his audience about the importance of donating. “One donation can save eight lives”. This statement will show the audience how important a donor is. Every year, 17 Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds including women, men and children die in the United States due to a lack of organ donations. It is sad to know that people can die while they wait for an organ.
Dowd’s ability to rationalize the donation of organs was due to her use of appropriate wording and tone. Tone is a three-fold concept: the writer’s attitude towards subject, audience, and themselves. Dowd is confident, passionate, and gentle when it comes to organ donation. Dowd considered her audience’s needs when she chose words. She began her speech with a story about her niece to engage the audience. Then, she deliberately used factual words to rationalize donation of organs.
It is clear that Dowd’s goal was achieved when she successfully persuaded the audience in “Our Own Warrior Princess”. This is because Dowd used the rhetorical situations of the article and how it works. Dowd was able to achieve this because she used the rhetorical situations, ethos and pathos, as well as SOAPStone, in a way that made sense. Dowd was able to appeal to her audience in a way that was appropriate for them.
Dowd used pathos extensively to describe Jennifer’s circumstances. Dowd demonstrated a masterful use of the ethos by appealing to human goodness. Dowd used logos to provide reliable statistics. Dowd’s writing was also credible and friendly to her readers because she used the correct combination of tone and words. Dowd’s persuasive essay was a result of the combination of powerful rhetorical strategies.
