When arguments are being made, there is always an angle that the author chooses in order to strengthen the statement. Any angle taken has roots in one of the three appeals, ethos, pathos, and logos. Each of these serves a different purpose when strengthening an argument. Though often tackled individually, these three concepts work together to create a credible, logical, and emotional argument. While writing the article "Pitcairn Works towards Equipping Police with Body Cameras" for the Tribune-Review, Emily Balser creates her argument while utilizing appeals to logic, credibility, and emotion, or logos, ethos, and pathos, respectively.

In this article, Balser is arguing that equipping police officers with body cameras is the correct course of action. To support this claim, she provides sound reasoning that sheds a positive light on the body camera initiative. Examples of the benefits that the cameras would offer are not only stated, but also supported by Chief Scott Farally of the Pitcairn Police Department. Claiming that the cameras are beneficial for police departments without showing any sort of proof leaves the argument empty. In theory, the author could claim whatever she liked, but without any support, the argument would not stick. The type of evidence needed in this situation to gain the most support is looking at the many practical uses of the cameras. In the article, it is stated that the cameras are "valuable in investigating crimes" (Balser). That statement on its own would not gain much traction. There is no hard evidence to support that claim, leaving an opportunity for the opposition to refute. However, this sentence is followed by a quote from Chief Farally stating, "It's direct evidence. It can be used in criminal prosecution" (Balser). It may seem as though these two statements are saying the same thing just in different words. In reality, the quote from Chief Farally provides a concrete reason for police departments to switch over to body cameras. A claim that was once empty is now factually supported, thus supporting the original argument for body cameras. 

Emily Balser successfully worked the logos appeal into her argument. At multiple points throughout the article, she backs up her claims with sound logic provided by a credible source. An article, such as this, published without including any sort of research or facts is not effective in persuading an audience. The absence of evidence turns an argumentative article into a simple opinion piece. The reasoning behind the argument is what gives the audience something to think about, and hopefully shift their viewpoint. Without support, those opposed will have no problem tearing holes in the claim, and will likely strengthen their own view, rather than change it.

This is an article packed with all the positive impacts that body cameras would have on the law enforcement community. Though it offers a solid foundation for the argument, there is one detail that drives the point home. Rather than laying out all the facts to prove a point, Balser brings up an argument from the opposition. A common issue that some see with the body cameras is the privacy of the footage, mainly questioning who has access to it. This is a valid point that the opposition presents. Though Balser could have ignored it, it is more beneficial to her argument to acknowledge the concerns of the people. In addition, the manner in which she addresses the issue contributed to the logos appeal. The first step is to acknowledge the opposing side. If the opposition was then simply dismissed, then the author would have weakened their own argument. However Balser responds to the issue with a reasonable solution. She includes a quote from the Chief of the department stating that, "he will be the only person with access to the stored data, unless another officer needs to review it for a police report" (Balser). By not only addressing the other side's concerns, but also providing a logical solution, the argument being made becomes validated.

This text exhibits a great example of a police department that is on board with the body camera movement, and have made a plan as to how to see it though. Because of that, this text, and the argument that lies within it, would be very useful in showing the positive outlook that some departments have for this new program. However, this article, like most others, is in no way unbiased, meaning that it would not be a valid source for objectivity. In addition, this source would not be helpful when looking for an example of ethos or pathos. Though there are examples of this laced throughout the text, they are not substantial enough to hold their own when supporting an argument.

By angling the argument toward a logical appeal, there are consequences that arise, especially when looking at how the other appeals are represented. The author focuses so heavily on the logical approach that the other two, though present, are partially hidden in the shadows. The appeal of credibility, ethos, plays a small but substantial role in the argument of this article. The entire basis of the argument, at a logical level, rests on the words of Scott Farally. His quotations provide support for all positive claims made by Balser. This appeal to ethos goes hand in hand with the appeal to logos. Similar to importance of the quotes to provide evidence, the fact that Scott Farally is the Chief of the Pitcairn Police Department is essential to making the quotes credible. The absence of quotes would hurt the claim. Likewise, quotes from the common man would not hold as much authority, thus hurting the claim. 

The appeal of emotion, pathos, can be efficiently used to drive home the argument to the average man. People typically respond to emotion. The facts and quotes that were included by Balser were relevant and necessary, however there was one other detail that was intended to target that last bit of resisters. To end the article, Balser provides an example of when new technology introduced to the police department resulted in the saving victims of drug abuse. Though this was a mere three sentences to sum up the argument, it served a specific purpose in making people feel. The hope is that if they believe it in their hearts, then they'll believe it in their heads.

Often when writing articles about controversial topics, authors use a number of approaches to try and sway the audience to join their side. The article, "Pitcairn Works towards Equipping Police with Body Cameras" by Emily Balser was no different. Though mainly focusing on the appeal to logic, she was able to incorporate all three appeals. They oppose each other in that they offer different interpretations, yet the three appeals complement each other. They allow for a concrete argument and provide the reader with enough information to decide where they fall.
