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Vivian Ojimadu
Professor Douglas
UWRT-800
5 November 2016
Digital Literacy Assignment

In 2014-16 it was estimated that 233 million people in Sub-Saharan

Africa were starved/undernourished (World Hunger, 2016). Many factors go
into causing this issue including climate change and the vast population
growth of Africa but other more preventable factors including lack of
resources and an array of corrupt government systems also play major roles
in Sub-Saharan African leading this world in childhood hunger, poverty, and
morbidity. I chose to use this mode of a Wordle in the shape of a family
because of the contrast it creates in the mind of the reader. When you think
of a family with both parents holding hands with their children youd usually

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associate that to a fairly happy and healthy home. But the words starving,
conflict, and lack create a harsh contrast that would move any reader. This
use of pathos in the advertisement moves the reader to concern regarding
towards the message of poverty and hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa. My use of
factual numbers and data such as 233 million people employs logos.
Knowing that that many people in one area are hungry ad living in meager
conditions such as slums makes the ad that much more real to the reader,
moving them to want to do something about the issue. This topic personal
affects me in that I am a first generation African. I have travelled to African
many times throughout my life and have witnessed firsthand the hunger,
poverty, and lack of resources and infrastructure in my home country
Nigeria. All of Africa is subject to this lack and all of African pleads for the
help of the developed nations of the world. The use of pathos and logos
strengthen my argument by invoking emotion in the reader, but my lack of
ethos and credible character could be a weakening point of my argument.

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Majority of animal cruelty cases go unreported in the US, those that do

are usually extreme cases of abuse and neglect. Almost 75 percent of all
reported animal cruelty cases involve dogs (Pet Society, 2011). Weak
protections afforded to animals under state cruelty laws have been in direct
correlation to animal abuse across the country. I chose to use the face an
abused dog because they are the most commonly abused animals as well as
the most common household pets. A reader with a dog would be moved
because that hurt animal could be their very own, this invokes pathos in the
reader. I also chose for the picture to be in black and white because this
usually invokes sadness in hopes to make the reader feel how the abused
animal feels. The words be the voice of the voiceless also invoke pathos by
making the reader feel they must help those who cannot help themselves.
The words end animal cruelty in bold red letters create a sense of urgency

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in the reader, this makes the reader feel as though the issue is dire and must
be addressed immediately. The little work I did in animal shelters and the
love I have for my own dog makes the issue personal to me and is the reason
why I take such a strong stand against animal cruelty. The pathos used in the
ad is extremely thought provoking and powerful which strengthens the
argument but the lack of both logos and ethos weaken the advertisement
and its credibility. This assignment relates to my understanding of digital
literacy by helping me understand how pathos, logos, and ethos and how
they are used in and throughout media outlets. This assignment incorporates
rhetorical knowledge by prompting my ability to identify rhetorical strategies
and apply them as well as critical reading by helping analyze rhetorical
devices, interpreting, and apply them through modes of literacy.

Works Cited
"Africa Hunger and Poverty Facts - World Hunger." World Hunger. N.p., n.d.
Web. 08 Nov.

2016.

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"Animal Abuse and Neglect : The Humane Society of the United States." RSS.
N.p., n.d. Web.

08 Nov. 2016.

"Animal Cruelty Facts and Stats." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.