Article Critique - Assignment Example

In Keohane’s article entitled “Imaginary fiends,” he states that there is a discrepancy between the actual decrease in crime rates and the beliefs of the American public regarding crime. Keohane presents arguments that show how the public is both mentally and emotionally made to believe that “crime got worse in the United States in 2009” (2009). In his article, he presents facts that show how “we’ve come to believe what we believe” and how the public needs to “take some steps toward mending our relationship with reality” (Keohane, 2009).

Warr’s article entitled “Fear of Crime in the United States: Avenues for Research and Policy” takes a similar route of argument as Keohane’s. Warr argues that people should know accurate information about the status of crimes because while “Fear…under many circumstances…is beneficial…under the wrong circumstances, [it] can unnecessarily constrain behavior, restrict freedom and personal opportunity, and threaten the foundation of communities” (Warr, 2000, p.482). . His article shows the extent of his research regarding the topic.

Similarly, Warr’s article utilizes ethos. Firstly, Warr is a known criminologist who has authored several books and articles regarding crime. His background alone can be qualified as valid argument in terms of credibility. Furthermore, his article boasts of extensive research, just like Keohane’s. He presents both quantitative and qualitative analyses coming from various credible government and non-government sources. The only issue, however, could be that Warr’s sophisticated presentation may be a bit hard to follow at first especially for those who are not familiar with the sociology of crime.

Keohane uses pathos, or the appeal to the emotions as well. At the onset of the article, he immediately grasps the audience’s attention by saying, “The year 2009 was a grim one for many Americans…” (Keohane, 2009). Immediately, he is able to communicate that his article is something that should interest his target audience --- the American public. He goes on to say that, “Citizens, though ground down and nerve-racked by the recession, still somehow resisted the urge to rob and kill one another…” (Keohane, 2009).

This appeals to the emotions because Keohane establishes agreement with an underlying value common among the audience, and at the same time, he paints a positive scenario of the audience. Warr’s article, on the same note, utilizes pathos, but this time by discussing the nature of “fear.” Fear is a strong emotion and every reader would understand what Warr wants to say in terms of fear of crime. He appeals to his audience’s emotions by making this emotion of fear as one of the main foundations of his argument.

Logos, or the