Activity 3: Analysis of Letter by Ronak (15)

Dear Congressman

I have been so impressed with your past voting record, and I am hoping that you will continue to make excellent decisions on behalf of your state. As a concerned parent who lost a child to a gun accident, I am writing to urge you to support the gun control legislation that will be on the November ballot.

The writer used PATHOS in the 1st Paragraph to show how he felt when he lost him son because of a gun accident. It is a good opening because the writer started of with a touch of emotion and serious mood.

The problem with guns is fairly straightforward: they make it easy to kill or injure a person. Did you know that, according to the F.B.I., approximately 60 percent of all murder victims in the United States in 1994 (about 16,000 people) were killed with firearms? According to estimates, firearm attacks injured another 70,000 victims, some of whom were left permanently disabled. In 1985 (the latest year for which this particular data is available), the cost of shootings--either by others, through self-inflicted wounds, or in accidents--was estimated to be more than $14 billion nationwide for medical care, long-term disability, and premature death. It is much higher now.

One of the problems with making it easier for citizens to have handguns is that in robberies and assaults, victims are far more likely to die when the perpetrator is armed with a gun than when he or she has another weapon or is unarmed. Opponents of gun control will say that this does not matter because most criminals buy their guns on the black market. However, not only do a number of criminals purchase guns legally, but the majority of those that do purchase them on the black market are buying guns that were purchased legally and then stolen—ones that would therefore not be on the black market if our gun control laws were more strict to begin with. Did you know that residents of homes where a gun is present are 5 times more likely to experience a suicide than residents of homes without? The fact remains that a gun makes it easier to commit suicide in a fit of rage, depression, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Self-defense is commonly cited as a reason to own a gun. This is the explanation given by 20 percent of all gun owners and 40 percent of all handgun owners contacted for a household survey conducted in 1999. However research has shown that a gun kept in the home is 43 times more likely to kill a member of the household, or friend, than an intruder. Furthermore, when a civilian tries to use a firearm to resist a violent assault, it actually increases the victim's (civilian’s) risk of injury and death.

A study of 743 gunshot deaths by Dr. Arthur Kellermann and Dr. Donald Reay published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that 84% of these homicides occurred during fights in the home. Only 2 of the 743 gunshot deaths occurring in the home involved an intruder killed during an attempted entry. The evidence revealed in the Kellermann study is consistent with data reported by the FBI. In 1993, there were 24,526 people murdered, 13,980 with handguns, yet only 251 justifiable homicides by civilians using handguns.

The last 4 Paragraphs shows LOGOS as he used logical reasoning with supported accurate data to prove his point and make his conclusion. He also used a little of PATHOS as he showed the emotions as a respect for all the innocent people who died. Also ETHOS as while showing respect to the Congressman, not loosing his anger, he requested his to consider the points he pointed out.

The reason that I have such an intense interest in this topic is that my son was killed by a gun (not my own) that belonged to a person who only wanted to protect his household, but it fell into the hands of a child by mistake. Do you want to be responsible for supporting legislation that would make more such incidents occur?

PATHOS - As he is asking a emotional question for the tragic things that occurred as time flew past. Bringing his son in the topic again also changes the mood to a sad one as the writer wants the congressman to feel like a father with a lost son.

Knowing all this, do you really think we can continue to allow citizens to buy guns so easily? If we continue making it so easy, our nation will continue to have gun-related domestic fatalities. I believe in our rights as citizens of the United States, especially the right to LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are unquestionably threatened by making it easy for the common citizen to buy a gun. Please, please vote for stricter laws.

LOGOS as he is reasonably right for what the questions he has asked and EHTHOS as he wants, respectfully, the congressman to approve his consent.

Yours sincerely

John Simmons

ETHOS - Signs of with respect to show respect and Appreciation.

Activity 3 analysis of letter Ray Chow 22

Dear Congressman
 
I have been so impressed with your past voting record, and I am hoping that you will continue to make excellent decisions on behalf of your state.  As a concerned parent who lost a child to a gun accident, I am writing to urge you to support the gun control legislation that will be on the November ballot.
(In this paragraph, the author is using Both ethos and Pathos to tell the congressman that he is doing a good job at having a lot of votes. Then, the writer pleads the congressman to listen to him. This way of persuading is very cunning and smart in a sense. )

The problem with guns is fairly straightforward: they make it easy to kill or injure a person. Did you know that, according to the F.B.I., approximately 60 percent of all murder victims in the United States in 1994 (about 16,000 people) were killed with firearms? According to estimates, firearm attacks injured another 70,000 victims, some of whom were left permanently disabled. In 1985 (the latest year for which this particular data is available), the cost of shootings--either by others, through self-inflicted wounds, or in accidents--was estimated to be more than $14 billion nationwide for medical care, long-term disability, and premature death. It is much higher now.
(in this paragraph, he uses logos . It is obvious that guns are easy to kill a person, and that he also uses facts and figures everywhere. )

One of the problems with making it easier for citizens to have handguns is that in robberies and assaults, victims are far more likely to die when the perpetrator is armed with a gun than when he or she has another weapon or is unarmed.  Opponents of gun control will say that this does not matter because most criminals buy their guns on the black market.  However, not only do a number of criminals purchase guns legally, but the majority of those that do purchase them on the black market are buying guns that were purchased legally and then stolen—ones that would therefore not be on the black market if our gun control laws were more strict to begin with. Did you know that residents of homes where a gun is present are 5 times more likely to experience a suicide than residents of homes without?  The fact remains that a gun makes it easier to commit suicide in a fit of rage, depression, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 
(Here, he uses pathos. He wants the reader to be angry of the people who buys guns on black markets and use them unnecessarily.)

Self-defense is commonly cited as a reason to own a gun. This is the explanation given by 20 percent of all gun owners and 40 percent of all handgun owners contacted for a household survey conducted in 1999.  However research has shown that a gun kept in the home is 43 times more likely to kill a member of the household, or friend, than an intruder.  Furthermore, when a civilian tries to use a firearm to resist a violent assault, it actually increases the victim's (civilian’s) risk of injury and death.

(Pathos again is used. He want the reader to take sympathy of the people who where killed, and brainwashes the reader to take action immediately. Or something like that. )

A study of 743 gunshot deaths by Dr. Arthur Kellermann and Dr. Donald Reay published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that 84% of these homicides occurred during fights in the home. Only 2 of the 743 gunshot deaths occurring in the home involved an intruder killed during an attempted entry.  The evidence revealed in the Kellermann study is consistent with data reported by the FBI.  In 1993, there were 24,526 people murdered, 13,980 with handguns, yet only 251 justifiable homicides by civilians using handguns.
(Yet again, pathos is used. It describes to the reader how urgent Is the need of having laws to stop this mess. )

The reason that I have such an intense interest in this topic is that my son was killed by a gun (not my own) that belonged to a person who only wanted to protect his household, but it fell into the hands of a child by mistake.  Do you want to be responsible for supporting legislation that would make more such incidents occur?
(This paragraph is using ethos to tell the reader that "Since my son was killed by a gun, I have rights to speak about this thing" attitude. )

Knowing all this, do you really think we can continue to allow citizens to buy guns so easily?  If we continue making it so easy, our nation will continue to have gun-related domestic fatalities.  I believe in our rights as citizens of the United States, especially the right to LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  These rights are unquestionably threatened by making it easy for the common citizen to buy a gun. Please, please vote for stricter laws.
( Wow. Here is a very well done paragraph by pathos. He is brainwashing the reader about the meaning of life. )

Yours sincerely

John Simmons

Activity 3: Analysis of Letter by Heo Yub (08)

In the first paragraph, pathos is used. Pathos is used when he says he is a concerned parent who lost a child due to a gun accident and also compliments the congressman who he was talking to.

In the second, third, fourth and fifth paragraph, he uses logos and talks about data and statistics to convince the congressman on is knowledge in the field.

In the sixth paragraph, he uses pathos once again as he tries to explain his interest in the topic which was the fact that he lost his child due to a gun accident and asks a rhetorical question that might make the congressman think twice on supporting the legislation. 

In the last paragraph, he uses ethos and logos by talking about deaths due to the fact that guns were readily available.

Activity 3: Analysis of Letter by Izzat Syahmi (09)

Dear Congressman

I have been so impressed with your past voting record, and I am hoping that you will continue to make excellent decisions on behalf of your state. As a concerned parent who lost a child to a gun accident, I am writing to urge you to support the gun control legislation that will be on the November ballot.

In the first paragraph, the author uses ethos for the first sentence as he had used language which made him seem of a higher status so as to make himself someone who is worth listening to by the Congressman. As for the second sentence, he had used pathos by stating that he lost his child to a gun accident so as to make it more emotional.

The problem with guns is fairly straightforward: they make it easy to kill or injure a person. Did you know that, according to the F.B.I., approximately 60 percent of all murder victims in the United States in 1994 (about 16,000 people) were killed with firearms? According to estimates, firearm attacks injured another 70,000 victims, some of whom were left permanently disabled. In 1985 (the latest year for which this particular data is available), the cost of shootings--either by others, through self-inflicted wounds, or in accidents--was estimated to be more than $14 billion nationwide for medical care, long-term disability, and premature death. It is much higher now.

For the second paragraph, the author had used logos as he had given data and statistics to explain his point even further.

One of the problems with making it easier for citizens to have handguns is that in robberies and assaults, victims are far more likely to die when the perpetrator is armed with a gun than when he or she has another weapon or is unarmed. Opponents of gun control will say that this does not matter because most criminals buy their guns on the black market. However, not only do a number of criminals purchase guns legally, but the majority of those that do purchase them on the black market are buying guns that were purchased legally and then stolen—ones that would therefore not be on the black market if our gun control laws were more strict to begin with. Did you know that residents of homes where a gun is present are 5 times more likely to experience a suicide than residents of homes without? The fact remains that a gun makes it easier to commit suicide in a fit of rage, depression, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

He had used logos for the third paragraph as he had continued giving facts about firearms and why they are so dangerous.

Self-defense is commonly cited as a reason to own a gun. This is the explanation given by 20 percent of all gun owners and 40 percent of all handgun owners contacted for a household survey conducted in 1999. However research has shown that a gun kept in the home is 43 times more likely to kill a member of the household, or friend, than an intruder. Furthermore, when a civilian tries to use a firearm to resist a violent assault, it actually increases the victim's (civilian’s) risk of injury and death.

For the fourth paragraph, the author had used ethos for first sentence and logos for the rest of the paragraph. He had used ethos for the first sentence as he is trying to give respect to firearm-owners. He had used logos for the rest of the sentences by providing more statistical data.

A study of 743 gunshot deaths by Dr. Arthur Kellermann and Dr. Donald Reay published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that 84% of these homicides occurred during fights in the home. Only 2 of the 743 gunshot deaths occurring in the home involved an intruder killed during an attempted entry. The evidence revealed in the Kellermann study is consistent with data reported by the FBI. In 1993, there were 24,526 people murdered, 13,980 with handguns, yet only 251 justifiable homicides by civilians using handguns.

As for the fifth paragraph, he had used ethos and logos by providing information from respectable doctors and also more statistical data.

The reason that I have such an intense interest in this topic is that my son was killed by a gun (not my own) that belonged to a person who only wanted to protect his household, but it fell into the hands of a child by mistake. Do you want to be responsible for supporting legislation that would make more such incidents occur?

He uses pathos for the whole of the sixth paragraph as he tries to reason with the Congressman emotionally by mentioning his son so as to instill pity into the congressman's heart.

Knowing all this, do you really think we can continue to allow citizens to buy guns so easily? If we continue making it so easy, our nation will continue to have gun-related domestic fatalities. I believe in our rights as citizens of the United States, especially the right to LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are unquestionably threatened by making it easy for the common citizen to buy a gun. Please, please vote for stricter laws.

He had used a bit of pathos in the last paragraph as he had explained how he felt as a citizen of the United States,

Yours sincerely

John Simmons

The Author signs off using ethos by respecting the congressman for reading.