A Rhetorical Analysis Of Who Was She By Kentucky Copeland

Lilly Copeland, in "Who Was She? A DNA Test Only Opened New Mysteries," highlights the key points of DNA testing by using logos, knowing her audience, clarifying the subject, using effective tone and applying sentence structure. Copeland’s uses these concepts to support her purpose. She attempts to influence the reader to understand the beneficial and deleterious effects of DNA testing like 23andMe.
Copeland reveals logos--knowledge and reason--within the text by word choice and tone. “In 2014, 23andMe estimated that 7,000 users of its service had discovered unexpected paternity or previously-unknown siblings — a relatively small fraction of overall users” (Copeland), uses statistics to reason with the reader while also using word choice to create a professional tone. Copeland’s tone makes the article more rational and her, as the writer, seem more qualified. This also appeals to logos by using statistics to convince the reader that DNA testing is a revolutionary new technique to learn more about family lineage.
Using the story as a way of teaching the audience about DNA testing and the outcomes it could provide, Copeland is able to teach the audience about a unique, unknown topic. “DNA testing can also yield uncomfortable surprises. Some testers, looking for a little more information about a grandparent’s origins, or to confirm a family legend about Native American heritage, may not be prepared for results that disrupt their sense of identity” (Copeland). Copeland uses past examples and the example of the Plebuch to help the reader or audience understand the aspects and appeal of testing but also the down