Pathetic 4-Year-Old Needs Father to Stand on Merry-Go-Round 2

The article first starts out by introducing a situation that many people can relate to because they’ve either experienced it for themselves or have seen another person experience it. This aspect is an example of Logos. The fact that a 4-year old wants his dad on the ride with him is a logical situation because it’s a common “event” in the human experience. The usage of quotes such as “It’s unbelievable that this kid can’t even handle just sitting there while the carousel spins around…” is an example of Ethos. The dialogue makes the article more credible and easier to believe. Pathos isn’t explicitly used in this article, but the tone lends itself to provoking an emotion, whether it’s laughter of anger. The author is aware of his/her audience and knows that poking fun at a kid wanting his parent while riding a merry-go-round will ensue some sort of emotion whether it is positive or negative. All of these rhetorical techniques work together to make a joke about the childhood experience. Mocking a child, using a logical situation, and having a cheeky tone creates an effective satire. Logos puts the satire into perspective for the readers, ethos makes the story seem real, while pathos slyly delivers the joke.