AIDS and India Rhetorical Analysis

The author of AIDS and India is woman writing for The Seattle Times. She appears to have gone on a trip to India and witnessed the effects AIDS has on the population. Gates is attempting to draw attention to the pressing issue of AIDS and enlist assistance in fighting it, especially in India, where over 4 million people have been infected with HIV. Because the paper she is writing for is fairly well read, Gates is addressing a large audience of Americans.
To connect with the readers, the author employs several rhetorical tools, like pathos. By appealing to the emotions of the audience by mentioning children and deaths, Gates is able to draw them deeper into her argument, "The reality is that 10 million children die every year, and two-thirds of them are dying from diseases that could be prevented with low-cost interventions, such as vaccines," (Gates, AIDS and India). It's difficult to ignore an argument when children are involved, simply because they are a subject that appeals to all peoples. Another tool is the syntax of the piece. Most sentences are simple, without flair, in an effort to make the meaning clear, "India is on the brink of an AIDS catastrophe that could undermine the country's potential for progress," (Gates, AIDS and India). This style of writing leaves little room for misinterpretation accenting the importance of the issue. Logos is another tool used by Gates. She states facts and statistics that cannot be ignored, and when these are combined with the other rhetorical tools, it creates a strong argument.
The authors effective use of writing techniques and the importance of the issue make a fairly strong argument. The flow is well developed and there are enough personal experiences, statistics and calls for action that the argument being made is well represented. The conclusion also assisted in the effectiveness of the argument because it left the reader with resounding thoughts about the topic. Also, the call for assistance appealed to the American pride, making it sound as if we were the only ones who could help. All in all, an effective argument.