Forms of appeal

The preface to Becoming by Michelle Obama is dominated by ethos and pathos. Ethos is generally used to make her appear experienced and authoritative, while pathos appeals to readers’ emotions.

Ethos

Through ethos, Obama attempts to make herself appear experienced and trustworthy in the eyes of the readers.

First, Obama gives a detailed presentation of her career to convince readers that she is experienced and that she has been successful in her own right, and not just as a result of her husband’s career: “So far in my life, I’ve been a lawyer. I’ve been a vice president at a hospital and the director of a nonprofit that helps young people build meaningful careers.” (ll. 10-11).

Moreover, by making references to her education (l. 12), Michelle Obama manages to convince readers of the difficulties she has gone through as an African-American. She also describes her various roles as a woman (ll. 13-14), which help her to come across as relatable and through which she appeals to young...