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Edit of Project Space Essay
Edit of Project Space Essay
Erin Smith-Soeten
Professor Beadle
English 115
19 September 2019
When reading an article, what typically draws you into reading it? Authors and
journalists often use methods of rhetoric including ethos, the author's credibility, pathos,
emotion, and logos, logic, to grab the reader's attention. A good article will generally have at
least two of these methods, however a great article tends to have all of them with one leading the
driving force and focus of the essay. After reading and analyzing the articles “What Suffering
Does” by David Brooks, “Living with Less. A Lot Less” by Graham Hill and “How Happy Are
You and Why?” by Sonja Lyubomirsky, Lyubomirsky has the best evidence out of the three
articles because she uses the most concrete evidence of logos, ethos and pathos supporting her
Lyubomirsky uses logo by using data and statistical evidence to prove and conclude her
arguments throughout the article. While all three articles had the use of logos, Lyubomirsky was
the strongest. Lyubomirsky uses logos by providing a pie chart on “What Determines
Happiness.” This graphic depicts that 50 percent of our inherent happiness is due to our genetic
makeup, 10 percent is due to our circumstances, and 40 percent is due to purposeful activity and
our mindset. She later describes how this graphic shows that happiness is not an inherent thing
we have; “To understand that 40 percent of our happiness is determined by intentional activity is
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to appreciate the promise of the great impact that you can make your own life through intentional
strategies that you can implement to remake yourself as a happier person” (Lyubomirsky 185).
Yes there are many factors out of our control that affect our happiness, 40 percent is based on
our own mindset and it's crucial to know. This evidence is the foundation of her article, with this
message that happiness isn't inherent is repeated throughout the article, to really solidify the
message. Brooks uses logos by stating outside evidence from Paul Tillich, a famous philosopher;
“people who endure suffering are taken beneath the routines of life and find they are not who
they believed themselves to be” (Brooks 285). This evidence isn't as strong as Lyubomirsky’s
since this is an idea or personal opinion from Tillich whereas Lyubomirsky has statistical
evidence she helped conduct first hand. There is nothing stated that Tillich is a credible source
within the work. Hill uses logos by stating the environmental damage that having too many
possessions creates. The Natural Resources Defense Council states that consumerism is one of
the leading causes of environmental damage, such as smog produced by factories, or the food
that is wasted everyday (Hill 310). While this is a very concrete reliable source that Hill uses, it
doesn't state much about how there are many sides to consumerism of the positives and negatives
in order to minimize the amount of bias and maximize her power of logos within her article. Hill
and Brooks’ evidence and logic is inconsequential in comparison to the amount of effort and
In addition to logos, Lyubomirsky also uses her background and credible sources to better
construct her article. This method is called ethos. Lyubomirsky has a Ph.D in psychology and has
written a multitude of books on happiness and how we can increase our own, despite our other
determining factors of surroundings and circumstance; “ She has also published more than eighty
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articles and book chapters” (Lyubomirsky 179). Lyubomirsky talks about her research over the
years and the best findings she has, in addition to studies she has done comparing and contrasting
people of similar and different situations. Lyubomirsky is a credible source because of her
background and immense knowledge on this field of study. The authors of the other two articles,
Brooks only has a B.A. along with his credibility of being an author, and Hill talks about his own
personal journey and credibility. The two authors write more about their own personal
experience with happiness and their journey, rather than using data from outside sources. Yes
they are both credible in this subject based on their personal experience but Lyubomirsky uses
not only her experience but other people too to support her argument. Lyubomirsky’s purpose is
to use her credible background and knowledge to inform the reader that in order to be truly
happy, despite circumstance, one must act upon their happiness and change their perception and
Pathos is also present within Lyubomirsky’s article, through her describing real life
stories of people in uncontrollable circumstances still with a happy outlook on life. Lyubomirsky
throughout her article, describes different real life examples and stories of people’s journey and
struggles with happiness. This method of rhetoric is called pathos, to try and attempt to grab the
reader's attention by stating something that will incite emotion within the reader. She compares
the differences and similarities between people of different backgrounds and factors.
Lyubomirsky talks about a woman named Angela who is one of the happiest people she knows
despite her rough childhood being physically and mentally abused by her mother as a child.
single mother. Things are hard financially… Still, with all that has happened and all the
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challenges that have come to pass, Angela considered herself a very happy person”
(Lyubomirsky 180). She also depicts a man named Randy who is similarly bright and happy
despite his multiple losses as a child, and his wife cheating on him and leaving him; “He picked
himself up after the divorce, moved to another city, found work as a safety engineer, and
eventually remarried” (Lyubomirsky 181). Lyubomirsky appeals to our empathy and our ability
to relate to others by sharing these deeply personal stories, and the people still being able to
persevere and change their view on life to increase their happiness. On the other hand, Brooks
believes that finding holiness is the solution. He explains holiness as “seeing life as a moral
drama, placing the hard experiences in a moral context” (Brooks 286). Brooks explains how in
times of hardship people tend to turn to religion to help grieve or come to terms with what has
happened. This is pathos because he appeals toward our moral by stating that happiness is a
moral issue. Hill talks about his own personal hardships, such as going through a divorce and
losing everything in addition to the loss he experienced as a kid (Hill 311). He then further
explains how living with less not only will increase your happiness but is also better for the
environment. He evokes our empathy that he has gone through these hardships. While these are
two strong arguments, Lyubomirsky has more to her article, and has greater evidence by giving
more than one specific situation and story, she includes more examples explaining the struggle of
happiness in many different forms. There are many factors to one's happiness and Lyubomirsky
hits all of them with her multiple point of view stories and conditions within the article.
Lyubomirsky’s article is more on the basis of happiness and the basic building block idea
of the other two articles. Sonja Lyubomirsky, has the best evidence out of the three articles
because she incorporates logos, ethos, and pathos incorporated throughout her article stating that
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happiness is a mindset above all else. While all three articles have great use of rhetoric,
Lyubomirsky is a more convincing article. Brook’s purpose is to inform the reader about this in
order to have a more fulfilling and happy life they must accept that hardships and suffering is
apart of life. Hill’s purpose is to inform the reader of the positive impact taking up a minimalist
lifestyle will have. All three articles stress the importance of one's happiness and how you are the
one in charge of how you react to what life throws at you. Taking all these steps will ensure a
Works Cited
Brooks, David, “What Suffering Does.” Pursuing Happiness, edited by Matthew Parfitt and
Hill, Graham. “Living with Less. a Lot Less.” Pursuing Happiness, edited by Matthew Parfitt
Lyubomirsky, Sonja.“How Happy Are You and Why?” Pursuing Happiness, Mathew Parfitt and