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Marcus Gee's Ethos Pathos Logos

Decent Essays

In September 2016, Marcus Gee wrote the article, “No, your kids shouldn’t be exempted from music class on religious grounds” to argue the irrationality of a child’s exclusion from mandatory education. Gee’s argues that Canada’s multiculturalism stems from the school system, and it is therefore not reasonable nor beneficial to accommodate every child with a religious request. Despite a flaw in Gee’s use of logos, it can be suggested that his overall use of logical, ethical, and pathetic appeals creates a strong argument for the denying of educational exemption. Through examining the text’s ethos in regards to credibility, it can be suggested that Gee is an appropriate and reliable journalist for this piece. Moreover, in 2002, Gee was the recipient …show more content…

Further, as Gee includes terms such as, “multiculturalism”, “burka”, and “secular”, the reader is made to understand that this column calls for critical thought and should not be taken lightly. Additionally, Gee’s writing evokes a feeling of patriotism and Canadian pride, which he likely feels is a persuasive tactic. For example, Gee writes, “Canadian school are the engine of integration. It is where children of every culture, race, and religion learn to get along with each other. It is where they learn to be Canadian”. Assuming that his audience is Canadian, Gee strategically calls his readers back to their educational years where they likely had positive experiences of integration and communion. By implying that unity is the “Canadian way” and providing an emotional appeal that readers can relate to, Gee effectively highlights the problematic nature of exemption, which in turn, strengthens his …show more content…

Moreover, Gee provides a background to this debate by describing how the school board has attempted to compromise in the past. Gee states, “they bent over backward to placate parents who wanted their kids let out of music…students could clap their hands…or just listen…It wasn’t enough”. In providing this historical context, Gee rids his audience of the potential thought that the school board has left parents without choice, and in turn, frames the father as inflexible. Gee strategically places this quote near the beginning of the article which allows readers to analyze the piece with what appears as full disclosure. That being said, in reviewing the logos, it is apparent that Gee is vague in his explanation of the Islamic ban on music. As a critical reader, this lack of detail made me wonder if Gee was hiding a universal aspect of the Islamic religion as his argument would not be as persuasive without framing the father as an anomaly. That being said, for those who do not over-analyze, this vagueness works to portray the father as irrational, therefore strengthening Gee’s

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