Question

ORD CHOICE: EMOTIONAL APPEALS
In a speech, an emotional appeal stirs an audience’s feelings rather than their senses of logic or
reason. A writer or speaker may use emotional appeals to support their claim, or position. Types
of emotional appeals include appeals to sympathy, which show an issue through the speaker’s
eyes, appeals to shared values, which refer to values, such as equality or freedom, that most
listeners share, and appeals to negative emotions, which result in strong negative feelings, such
as anger, resentment, sadness, or fear.
A writer’s word choice helps to illustrate their tone, or the writer’s attitude toward their audience
and subject. Writers may also use allusion, an indirect reference to a well-known person, work,
or event, to strengthen readers’ understanding of their message and help to communicate their
argument.
DIRECTIONS: For each question, write the letter of the best answer.
1. Which of the following statements is an appeal to sympathy?
a. Not tackling a problem head-on is cowardly. So, let’s fund this medical research.
b. Everyone should get good medical care. So, let’s fund this medical research.
c. I know how badly the loss of a loved one hurts. So, let’s fund this medical research.
2. Which of the following statements is an appeal to shared values?
a. We all believe in the democratic right to vote. We must protect it.
b. If we don’t act now, there will be an economic collapse. People could lose everything!
c. Think of children who go to bed hungry each night. Let’s end poverty.
3. Which of the following statements uses a logical appeal?
a. I myself dealt with childhood obesity, so I know the challenges it poses.
b. We all want our children to be happy and healthy. So, let’s promote healthy lifestyles.
c. Exercise decreases the risk of diabetes, can lower blood pressure, and can control obesity,
so let’s encourage our kids to get active and give them the time to do so.
4. Which statement appeals to the negative emotions of anger and resentment?
a. The plant’s management has been taking advantage of us for too long! It’s time to strike!
b. I know first-hand what it’s like to feel unsure about the future.
c. If we are organized and have the courage, management will listen to us.
PRACTICE
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Name: Date:
WORD CHOICE: EMOTIONAL APPEALS
A. DIRECTIONS: Read the passage. Then, answer the questions.
(1) All of us want to provide students with a safe and welcoming environment for learning at
school. (2) Unfortunately, bullying in schools is a serious problem. (3) Each day, about 160,000
students skip school because they are afraid of being bullied, showing clearly why we need to
act to end all forms of bullying in schools. (4) As a child, I was a victim of bullying in school, and
I can tell you that it is an experience from which it is hard to recover. (5) We need to let our kids
know that there are resources to help them if they have been the victims of bullying. (6) We also
need to let the students who bully others know that there are resources to help them find a
better way to deal with their problems and frustrations than taking them out on others.
1. What is the author’s claim, or position?
2. Which type of appeal is used in sentence 1 of the passage?
a. appeal to logic c. appeal to shared values
b. appeal to sympathy d. appeal to a negative emotion
3. Which type of appeal is used in sentence 3 of the passage?
a. appeal to logic c. appeal to shared values
b. appeal to sympathy d. appeal to a negative emotion
4. Which type of appeal is used in sentence 4 of the passage?
a. appeal to logic c. appeal to shared values
b. appeal to sympathy d. appeal to a negative emotion
5. Which of the following best describes the tone of the passage?
a. nervous c. playful
b. concerned d. unfeeling
B. DIRECTIONS: Read each statement below. Then, indicate the type of appeal being used (logic,
sympathy, shared values, or negative emotions), and explain your answer.
1. The use of tobacco, such as cigarettes, is the largest preventable cause of death and disease
in the United States. Each year, more than 480,000 Americans die because of tobacco use.
Do yourself a favor! Don’t start!
2. We all want to work in safe conditions while making a living. Secondhand smoke is very
harmful to non-smokers, which is why it’s so important that smoking be banned in all
workplace environments.

Answer 1

First section (multiple choice)
1. c
2. a
3. c
4. a

Practice A — passage
1. Claim/position:
We need to act to end bullying in schools and provide resources to help both victims and students who bully.

2. Sentence 1: c. appeal to shared values

3. Sentence 3: a. appeal to logic

4. Sentence 4: b. appeal to sympathy

5. Tone: b. concerned

Practice B — identify appeal and explain
1. Type of appeal: Logic.
Explanation: The statement uses a factual statistic (more than 480,000 deaths each year) as evidence to support the claim that tobacco use is deadly and to persuade people not to start.

2. Type of appeal: Shared values.
Explanation: The statement begins by invoking a common value—working in safe conditions for a living—to build agreement, then uses harm to non-smokers as supporting evidence for banning workplace smoking.