What does it mean when a text employs pathos?

Prepare for the NCEA Level 3 English Unfamiliar Texts Exam. Study with multiple choice quizzes and thorough explanations. Ace your exam!

When a text employs pathos, it effectively engages the audience's emotions in order to persuade them. This technique allows the writer or speaker to create a deep emotional connection with the audience, making them more receptive to the message being presented. By appealing to feelings such as sympathy, nostalgia, anger, or happiness, the text aims to evoke a response that influences the audience's thoughts or actions.

The other options reflect different rhetorical strategies that do not align with the emotional appeal of pathos. Presenting logical arguments relates to logos, which relies on reason and evidence. Using technical jargon typically caters to a specific audience and does not engage emotions. Lastly, disregarding reader emotions is the opposite of what pathos aims to accomplish, as it intentionally overlooks the emotional connections that can enhance persuasion.

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