- Sep 2020
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www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
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One research study showed that adolescents who did household chores felt a stronger sense of purpose. Why? The researchers believe it’s because they’re contributing to something bigger: their family. Another study found that cheering up a friend was an activity that created meaning in a young adult’s life.
here, smith is using logos through providing statistical data to support her point! giving real numbers further solidifies her argument to an audience....it shows that instead of just theories and anecdotes, smith also has cold hard facts to support her argument
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It’s one of the most beautiful passages in literature, and it encapsulates what a meaningful life is about: connecting and contributing to something beyond the self, in whatever humble form that may take.
i just think it's good to note that the author did a really good job making the connection between the message of the book and the message of the piece itself!
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Over the past five years, I’ve interviewed dozens of people across the country about what gives their lives meaning, and I’ve read through thousands of pages of psychology, philosophy and neuroscience research to understand what truly brings people satisfaction.
i think that here, the author was trying to (and succeeded in) establishing ethos! smith shares her varied experience with talking with many people across the country about what truly gives their lives meaning. from this point on, knowing this knowledge, the audience trusts smith's perspective on the "meaning of life," trusting that she is using valid stories to support her viewpoint
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humanparts.medium.com humanparts.medium.com
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These students all came to me willingly, and shared what was bothering them
all of these stories definitely lend to the overall goal of the article! the author drew on their personal interactions with others and made their point increasingly more clear- student who were pegged as "lazy" were always dealing with external situations. this is also a good writing technique- using relevant anecdotes to show that you a) have knowledge on the topic, and b.) that your knowledge is actually valid....there are/were real people exhibiting your point
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Kim is the person who taught me that judging a homeless person for wanting to buy alcohol or cigarettes is utter folly. When you’re homeless, the nights are cold, the world is unfriendly, and everything is painfully uncomfortable. Whether you’re sleeping under a bridge, in a tent, or at a shelter, it’s hard to rest easy.
some level of pathos here! definitely tugging on heartstrings, which makes the audience feel some sympathy for homeless people, who they may have judged harshly prior
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Kim is passionate about the acceptance and accommodation of disabled people and homeless people. Their writing about both subjects is some of the most illuminating, bias-busting work I’ve ever encountered. Part of that is because Kim is brilliant, but it’s also because at various points in their life, Kim has been both disabled and homeless.
the author is establishing credibility (ethos) for their colleague....likely going to use kim in some sort of anecdotal format, so they want to signal their reliability
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Situational
subjectivity > objectivity
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In fact, I don’t believe that laziness exists.
great intro definitely interesting!!! i think that this is not a view held by many so definitely interested to keep reading......hopefully it proves true so that i can show this to my mom :)
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