Michael Gerson: Saying Goodbye to my Child, the Youngster
Michael Gerson creates a solemn tone through appeals to pathos and ethos to express the feeling of dropping kids off at collage. Gerson appeals to ones emotions by describing his own feelings as his child left home. The columnist compares the feeling of his son leaving to that of the "kindergarten door" and the "gates of summer camp". Setting these events side by side proves a parents love never fades and each step towards independence feels like the very first. Collage, kindergarten and summer camp are each acts of separation creating a saddened state of mind within the passage. Gerson establishes his own credibility through his citations. The columnist lists several sources such as an "education expert," and a "high-powered Washington foreign policy expert" (Gerson). An education expert is well qualified to speak about children's behavior as they leave and a high-powered policy expert in America's capitol is reliable because of their familiarity with policies in separate environments. Gerson cites sources closely related to his topic in order to portray himself and his feelings as well experienced and educated. Gerson was successful in creating a solemn tone through appeals to a parents love and supporting it through related sources, further establishing his own credibility as a columnist.