As a part of Penn State Dance MaraTHON, I actively participate in fundraising. I am a member of an organization called Domani THON. Each year, students address THONvelopes to family and friends, asking for donations. I fell a bit behind and missed the deadline to send out THONvelopes. However, I can still reach out to family and friends via online donations. The operative phrase in that sentence is reach out. I have to decide what the best approach is to writing an email that will motivate my family and friends to make a donation online.
This experience is reminding me of rhetoric's ethos and pathos. I am writing many drafts of this email that will reach dozens of loved ones; asking myself which method of rhetoric is more appropriate: ethos or pathos. If I employ ethos, I will focus mainly on the credibility and character of THON. I will explain its financial success, the overall mission, my personal involvement, and the practical need for fundraising support. If I employ pathos, I will focus mainly on the emotional appeal of THON. I will explain the grueling treatment of pediatric cancer, the overwhelming statistics for victims, and some of the individual stories of a Four Diamonds Family. Which rhetoric is more effective? Which rhetoric is more appropriate? Is a combination of ethos and pathos the best approach? It is surprising how complicated a simple plea for money can become. I am struggling to decide which is the best rhetoric approach. I do not want the email to be an inexpressive, boring plea for donations if I lean too heavily on ethos. In contrast, I do not want the email to be an overemotional, zealous plea for donations if I lean too heavily on pathos. My ultimate goal is to reach out to the my loved ones in the most effective way so that they can help me in my fundraising goals for THON.
It boils down to this: Will my family and friends be more affected by an email that is sprinkled with ethos, or freckled with pathos?
