Logos, ethos, and pathos

Tara Westover uses a mix of all three forms of appeal in her essay "I Am Not Proof of the American Dream" to engage and persuade her readers.

Logos

Westover quotes statistics and studies that demonstrate how social and economic inequality can limit upward mobility. For example, she shares statistics that show how drastically tuition fees have risen: 

According to the U.S. Department of Education, in the last three decades, tuition at four-year colleges has more than doubled, even after you adjust for inflation. A 2019 report by the Institute for Higher Education Policy tells us that at some state flagship schools (not fancy private schools, just regular four-year public universities), low-income students are asked to cover some $80,000 beyond what they can afford. (ll. 81-85)

This allows her to show that the financial barriers to higher education today are much higher than those she faced when she was in university. 

Westover also uses ...