Orensten asserts, “According to a survey of college students in Britain, 60 percent consult pornography, at least in part, as though an instrcution manual…” Her lack of quoting the exact survey reduces the effectiveness of her point.

Orenstein uses logos to give herself and what she is saying credibility. Orenstein effectively makes a connection with the reader through pathos. This reliving or recalling of a similar situations leads the reader to make a connection with the author and her message. The short anecdotes use imagery and language, making the reader relive or think about a similar situation they have experienced, either as the kid, as the parent or both. Leaving something unnamed, of course, makes it quite literally unspeakable.” Her short description of something we do not normally think about, but we relate to evokes feelings of interest and curiosity in the reader. Orenstein uses another situation with her daughter to further her point, “When my daughter was a baby, I remember reading somewhere that while labeling infants’ body parts, parents often include a boy’s gentials but not a girl’s. Her story is similar to many people’s experiences with their parents and sex education, evoking an emotional response from the reader. She rolled her eyes and said in that jaded tone that parents of pre-teenagers know so well, ‘Yes, Mom, but I’ve never seen it.’ I could’ve let the matter drop, felt relieved that she might yet make it to her first kiss unencumbered by those images.” Orenstein uses her story to compel readers. Orenstein recalls “Driving home with my daughter, who is now in middle school, we passed a billboard whose giant letters on a neon-orange background read, ‘Porn kills love.’ I asked her if she knew what pornography was. Orenstein uses pathos frequently throughout the article. The uses of pathos and logos are effective in persuading the reader to agree with or understand the author’s point. The use of pathos, personal stories and emotional tone, helps make the article more relatable and the witty tone helps take the edge off the piece, also making it more relatable. The use of logos, quotes and facts, in the article strengthens the main points and helps give the author further credibility. In order to get her point across, Orenstein uses a combination of pathos and logos.

Schoolgirls by peggy orenstein