Jill Lepore Inequality

In the essay “Richer and Poorer Accounting for inequality.” authored by Jill Lepore it discusses the effects and statistics behind economic inequality in America. The essay brings to surface some statistical, as well as personable examples of how inequality is relevant today. In Jill Lepore’s essay, when closely analyzing her text it is clear that she utilizes the rhetorical strategies of logos, ethos, and pathos very intentionally. It is with the use of these rhetorical strategies that she effectively persuades readers of academia towards understanding the importance of recognizing the growing issue of inequality in the United States. Jill Lepore utilizes the use of the rhetorical strategy of logos as a major force in her essay. Where she writes “...economic inequality has been measured on a scale, from zero to one, known as the Gini index and named after an Italian statistician, Corrado Gini, who devised it in 1912…”. (1) she creates a numerical representation of the concept of inequality. By creating a statistic to this concept it appeals to logic and reasoning to the academic audience. The statistics presented by Jill Lepore gives the …show more content…
This becomes apparent as Professor Lepore uses Robert Putnam’s book “Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis” to appeal to the emotion evoking strategy of pathos. She identifies this asset to how relatable this book makes inequality when she says “ “Our Kids” is a heartfelt portrait of four generations: Putnam’s fellow 1959 graduates and their children, and the kids in Port Clinton and those nine other communities today and their parents. The book tells more or less the same story that the numbers tell; it’s just got people in it.” (3). This quote appeals to pathos as it turns numbers, which is typically a logos strategy, and creates an emotional connection by turning numbers into people, thus making it a well executed strategy of