The Ways We Lie

In "The Ways We Lie", Stephanie Ericsson uses ethos, logos, and diction to explain why we as people tell lies on a day to day basis. She gives examples and explains many different type of lies to get the reader to understand that although we may tell a lie ,with positive or negative intent, at the end of the day it is still a lie which has a consequence.

Ericsoon appeals to ethos throughout the essay by making the reader understand that we are all human and we all lie. She even says "Sure I lie, but it doesn't hurt anything. Or does it?". She is sure to let the reader know that she can relate because she herself has lied. She has the highest source of credibilty being that she is the author and has told lies. She speaks on calling the bank and telling them her deposit was in the mail knowing she hadn't written a check. This is something the reader can relate especislly with our economy being the way it is. She makes herself more credible by relating to the reader.

As a whole "The Ways We Lie" was written to explain the many different type of lies and people's reasoning behind telling them which in essence is an appeal to logos. Ericsson's logic was to identify different types of lies so that society as a whole will understand them but still understand that lies are not always the best solution and affect each and evey one of us.

Ericsson had a very strong use of diction. It set her tone and her attitude of how she felt about "The Ways We Lie". Her word choice made her text relateable to all age groups. The vocabulary wasn't too limited nor too broad making the essay easier to read. She gave many examples such as her explanation of the lie: ignoring the plain facts where she explains how the Catholic Church in Massachusetts and Minesotta accepted Father James Porter to sexually molest children by allowing him to "give the Word". Her choice of the title ignoring the plain facts helps the reader to understand her meaning behind this example. The clergy in both states ignored the fact that Father James Porter was a child molester.

With her use of different rhetorical srategies at the end of the essay, the reader knows we all lie. Bu they also understand that not only is lying not justifiable but that it has controvert consequences that the liar and the ones they have lied to have to face everyday.