Kristof Rhetorical Strategies

The New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has been writing for the newspaper for nearly twenty years. He focuses on global injustices and human rights. As an attestation to his popularity among readers of the New York Times, he is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. Based on the analysis of five opinion pieces written by Kristof, his effectiveness may be evaluated according to the rhetorical strategies he utilizes to attract and engage the attention of his readers. Kristof’s columns involve a large amount of controversy, and therefore, the rhetorical strategies he includes in his opinion pieces are crucial to attracting an extensive audience. By utilizing rhetorical appeals, ethos, logos, and pathos, the author proves effective in communicating …show more content…
In Kristof’s column, “How Can You Hate Me When You Don’t Even Know Me?” the concern is racism. He uses a retelling of an individual’s personal experiences and strategies to combat prejudice. Kristof mentions how an African American 10-year-old boy was attacked by a group of white people and eventually became an expert in persuasion. This column has an emotional appeal as Kristof details the events that an individual experienced solely because of the color of their skin and how it was ultimately the victim who helped create a mutual understanding and possible friendship with the aggressor. He states, “Once people feel they are being listened to, it is easier to plant a seed of doubt” (“How Can You Hate Me When You Don’t Even Know Me?”). The message in this column is that there are moments when people need to talk to each other and find common ground instead of physically or verbally attacking one another. Kristof discusses the issue of prejudice and stereotypes. He argues that despite the absence of interpersonal knowledge, individuals nevertheless believe it is acceptable to spread negative rumors and gossip about one another based on presumptions and

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