Against Head Phones Ethos Pathos Logos

Words: 451
Pages: 2

The opinion article “Against Headphones” uses three rhetorical appeals, ethos, pathos, and logos, illustrating the dangers of headphones and earbuds. The author begins by using logos to demonstrate the health impact headphones have, saying, “One in five teenagers cannot hear rustles or whispers... The number of teenagers with hearing loss—from slight to severe—has jumped 33 percent since 1994” (Heffernan 1). Heffernan refers to The Journal of the American Medical Association for these two statistics, showing ethos, as she gets her evidence from credible sources. Her two statistics are also relevant because she brings up facts showing the damage headphones have done to teenagers' hearing health in our society. Reading about the number of teenagers …show more content…
The author continues to use rhetorical appeals. She uses ethos and logos, saying “the iPod appeared almost a decade ago—many researchers attribute this to widespread hearing loss” (Heffernan 2). Referring to researchers again gives her ethical credibility, while this simple study from researchers also brings out the logos in this text. Virginia establishes her credibility by writing about the history of headphones. Her article states: “Workers and soldiers have long used them to mute the din of machinery or artillery while receiving one-way orders from someone with a microphone” (Heffernan 5). She continues to explain the history of headphones, showing her deep understanding of their uses and the causes and effects of using headphones themselves. Virginia ends the article with logos and pathos, using a study saying that headphones are antisocial. When headphones are used to tune out people's surroundings, it destroys the purpose of groups of people enjoying music together. Using headphones also removes the family's ability to listen to what another is listening to and make