Each of these four texts employs essential rhetorical techniques to effectively convey different purposes. The Times article adopts an analytical approach, Safire’s speech emphasizes the emotional aspect of the moon landing within a hypothetical context. Rand’s article portrays the launch in a highly positive and metaphorical manner, while the Hemlock cartoon criticizes the mission’s attention while multiple crises were unfolding in the world.
The first piece, written by the Times of London, emphasizes the significance of the moon landing as a global event, highlighting its importance for all of humanity. The article showcases the remarkable nature of this achievement, considering the extensive preparation and technical expertise required for a successful landing. Additionally, it underscores the landing’s broader impact on society, both in terms of its significance for humanity and its political implications worldwide.
The intended readers of this paper are both Londoners who read this publication and members of the international community who followed the moon landing. Technical information about the landing and Armstrong’s description of the moon are provided for those interested in the specifics, while the reactions of leaders worldwide are emphasized for those who analyze events from a political perspective.
The credibility of the Times establishes the ethos, while the nerves of the men in Houston on the ground, Richard Nixon’s reaction when the shuttle descends back to earth safely, and the emotional reactions around the world appeal to pathos. The accurate description of the mission’s details and the affect of the landing on the Cold War, as highlighted by Moscow Radio’s somber report, appeal to logos. Despite the largely positive report on the landing, this text does not persuade the reader to think one way or another.
The purpose of the speech by William Safire for President Nixon is to honor Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin if they did not return to earth after the landing. It also aims to provide comfort to the American people and global viewers by portraying the astronauts as heroes. The primary audience is the American public, as this speech is intended for the President of the United States, though it would have also reached people worldwide. Ethos in this piece is more complex, as it is written by one person and delivered by another.
Ethos is mainly appealed to because the speaker is the President, but the qualifications of Safire also contribute to the appeal to ethos. There is not much appeal to logos in this piece due to the emotional nature of the situation, but the acknowledgment that others will learn from the mistakes made appeals to reason. Pathos is heavily appealed to as the entire speech aims to aid in mourning the loss of the astronauts, which would have been an incredibly emotional event for the American people. This speech effectively helps the reader grasp the significance of the astronauts’ sacrifice, making the potential mourning easier to cope with.
The objective of Ayn Rand’s article about the take-off of the Appollo 11 mission is to persuade her readers about the significance of the event from a philosophical and logical perspective. Rand’s credibility is based on her reputation as a popular novelist and her adept writing abilities. This article is aimed at a relatively limited audience, consisting primarily of readers of the Objectivist publication, which was not as extensively circulated as the Times or other major publications.
Although Rand’s audience is smaller, she benefits from the fact that most of her readers will understand and appreciate her message, resulting in a more intricate and creative article than one intended for mass appeal. The excitement and power of the take-off are described, appealing to pathos. Throughout her commentary, she appeals to logos by discussing the philosophical significance of the take-off and the perspective it provides on mankind’s dominance of the natural world and its desire for further exploration. This article effectively presents the launch of Apollo 11 from a philosophical viewpoint.
The Hemlock political cartoon uses ethos to criticize the moon landing and its distraction from current issues. The cartoon was published in the Washington Post, a popular and credible source. The intended audience would have been readers of the Post worldwide.
The cartoon appeals to Logos by prompting thoughts about the practicality of the moon landing amidst earthly suffering, and to Pathos by portraying “War, Poverty and Prejudice” as black clouds engulfing the earth, aiming to evoke guilt for not prioritizing these global problems. The cartoon successfully urges newspaper readers to reevaluate the significance of the moon landing when confronted with Earth’s issues.
These four texts served different purposes for different audiences but employed similar rhetorical techniques. Each text appealed to ethos, pathos, and logos while considering the opinions of the audience. Despite the use of these techniques, each piece achieved its unique purpose, highlighting the persuasive potential of these essential rhetorical methods.
