Pathos

Pathos: Translated as appealing to the emotions, moving the “hearts” of the students to pity, laughter, love, or any other feeling.  This is not about YOUR emotions (though your own emotions may guide you), but the emotions of the students.

• Show that you care about the individual students by passing out a questionnaire (like the one Julie Sartwell developed) on the first day of class; it should address issues like preparation for the class, background in English, and personal stresses, such as course load and work.  In addition, it should have a question which would allow students to reveal learning issues.
• Connect to your students by having private meetings with each student, preferably in the first three weeks.  You can talk about their writing, but also ask about their goals, learning styles, fears (maybe/ maybe not), hopes, etc.
• Choose readings with emotional appeal, such as Pedro and Me, My Year of Meats, The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, Kitchen, etc. Use poetry and short stories that appeal to students who are mostly ages 18-24 and which may touch their hearts. 
• Use films to supplement the readings, and be certain to use ones that have emotional appeal as well, such as Bowling for Columbine, The Gods Must Be Crazy, Boyz ‘n the Hood.
• A written note of praise or concern is good, but a private, spoken word to a student who did a particularly noteworthy job or who is currently suffering will go directly to that student’s heart.
• Public praise (overheads of well-written sections from student papers - Good Writing) and clapping for those accomplishments.
• Laughter – one way is to use cartoons on your assignment sheets, but do it in your own way.  I can’t tell you how to stage laughter.
• Building exercises in which each person is listened to carefully and many students find that their thoughts are repeated and/ or respected by others.
• When using sample essays from former students, try to find ones that will touch the hearts of the students as well as show appropriate form.
• Putting a photo of the class outside your office (as Kathy Flores does) or on your website is a great way to connect with them.