First, let’s start our discussion with some writing. Let’s practice using evidence to support your claims by responding to the following question:

As you listen, notice the moments where you have an emotional response to what you hear. Point to SPECIFIC MOMENTS (give time cues, if you can). What makes you angry? What makes you happy? What annoys you, frustrates you or makes you laugh? Do you expect that everyone who listens to this story would have the same reaction that you do? Why or why not?

Next, let’s discuss the following questions:

• In what ways does This American Life host Ira Glass, or the author, Lindy West, establish ETHOS in the interview? There are many ways that West and Glass do this.
• Do you notice West or Glass making any appeals to LOGOS? Where and how?
• What kinds of appeals does West privilege? In other words, does she appeal to ETHOS, LOGOS, or PATHOS the most? Or does she appeal to them equally?
• Think back to the end section in Act Five in which West describes her engagement. What do you see, smell, hear, feel, etc. in her account? How does she use that description to emphasize her argument? Why does she use description at this moment?
• How might West’s approach change if she were appealing to a different audience? BE SPECIFIC. Which details might she frame differently? What might she leave out? What other parts of her story might she include?