She argues for her views by using different children's books, and explaining how they have affected her and others. She states in the article that “I strongly wish that I hadn't read this book but the damage has been done (..) traumatic images that Shriver's words created in my head.”. Here she is talking about a book she herself have read (“We Need To Talk About Kevin” by Lionel Shriver), and how deeply it has affected her. This is an example of how she uses her own experiences to argue for her views. Westcott also ends the article with a question from the writer Maurice Sendak, “it is surely only right that we provide as many opportunities as possible for children to make sense of the world they live in?”, and this is making the reader interested in hearing more.  

By Bonita and Josefine

Rebecca Westcott believes that children should be allowed to choose for themselves, which books they find appropriate to read. Westcott appeals to ethos by underlining this argument with a story of her own son, who read Harry Potter: “What he didn't feel ready for was the emotional storyline and, after reading the first book, made the decision to read the rest out of sequence.” , this shows that she allowed her son to choose his own books, and let him deal with it emotionally by himself. Rebecca Westcott also uses an example of herself which shows even adults can choose books for themselves that they are either not ready to read, or can not deal with emotionally. Westcott does not only use ethos in this example, she uses pathos too, by appealing to her own emotions. Rebecca Westcott states “Reading is an individual, independent affair and the things that impact on me may be completely bypassed by someone else.” Westcott mean by this, every person has their own mind, every person has their own opinion for the books they read.

Written by Lucas and Melissa

She starts out by referring to an earlier event, which began the debate based on the question “How dark is too dark in children’s books?” She wins credibility as an author when she represents different opinions for and against age banding books as seen in the quote: “Those in favour believe that children's fiction pushes boundaries that aren't appropriate for all readers. Those against talk about restricting children's choices and alienating readers with a younger reading ability than their chronological age.” (Li. 12-14).  At this point she remains objective and gives the reader a chance to establish their own opinion. 

Westcott uses ethos and pathos in the description of her own experience (...) To be continued 

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