Forms of appeal

In “It’s Perfectly OK to Not Always Be Perfect”, Sarah Persinger uses ethos and pathos to make readers connect with her story and accept her views.

Ethos

Ethos is first built through the writer’s identity. Persinger has the authority to speak on the topic of striving to achieve perfection in sports, and of finding one’s path in life because she has been a gymnast herself and struggled with these issues.

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Pathos

Pathos is the prevailing form of appeal in the text, as the writer often describes how she feels and appeals to emotions like pride and hurt pride, family support, friendship, the fear of failure, etc.: “I had never been so miserable in my career as I was standing on the sidelines (...) I hated it. I despised the athlete I allowed...

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