Gun violence has always been a major public health concern in the United States, with more than 39,000 gun-related deaths in 2019 alone. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem, with reports of increased gun violence in several cities. This essay will compare and analyze the persuasive strategies used by two articles that address the topic of gun violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The articles are “Gun violence during COVID-19 pandemic: paradoxical trends in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Baltimore” by Sutherland et al. (2021) and “Gun violence incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic is higher than before the pandemic in the United States” by Ssentongo et al. (2021).

Contextual Factors

When analysing their persuasive strategies, the context in which these articles were written is important. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the United States, not just in terms of public health but also economically, politically, and socially. The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated pre-existing inequalities in American society, including disparities in access to healthcare, education, and employment. The pandemic has also coincided with a surge in civil unrest and political polarization in the United States. These factors have undoubtedly influenced the authors and their audiences.

Rhetorical strategies

The use of rhetorical strategies by the authors Sutherland et al. (2021) and Ssentongo et al. (2021) effectively engage and persuade their respective audiences. Both articles make use of logos, ethos, and pathos to varying degrees, and these strategies are influenced by the context in which the articles were written.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an important contextual factor that has influenced both the authors and the audience of these articles. The pandemic has had wide-ranging effects on society, including economic stress, social isolation, and an increase in mental health problems. Both articles cite these factors as potential reasons for the increase in gun violence during the pandemic. The audience for these articles is likely to include healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the general public, who are all affected by the pandemic and may be more receptive to arguments that address the pandemic and its impact on society.

The historical, political, and cultural factors that influence American society are also important to consider when analyzing the rhetorical strategies used by these authors. Gun violence has long been a contentious issue in the United States, with debates over gun control and the Second Amendment frequently making headlines. The authors of both articles are likely aware of this context and may be influenced by it in their choice of persuasive strategies. For example, the authors may choose to appeal to emotions such as fear or anger in order to gain support for their arguments, given the emotional nature of the gun control debate.

Target Audience

The target audience for both articles is likely to be a mix of healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the general public. However, the articles may appeal to different subsets of this audience. Sutherland et al. (2021) may be more appealing to healthcare professionals and policymakers, as it presents data on gun violence trends in specific cities and offers potential explanations for these trends. Ssentongo et al. (2021) may be more appealing to the general public, as it presents data on gun violence incidence in the United States as a whole and suggests that the pandemic may be contributing to this increase.

Persuasive Strategies

Both articles use a combination of logos, ethos, and pathos to persuade their audiences. However, the effectiveness of these strategies varies between the two articles.

• Sutherland et al. (2021)

Logos: Sutherland et al. (2021) rely heavily on logos to persuade their audience. The article presents data on gun violence trends in four major cities during the pandemic, including graphs and charts that illustrate these trends. The authors also offer potential explanations for these trends, such as the closure of schools and community centres and the economic impact of the pandemic. This use of logos is effective in making a logical argument for why gun violence may have increased during the pandemic.

Ethos: The authors of Sutherland et al. (2021) establish their credibility by citing previous research on gun violence and public health. They also acknowledge the limitations of their own study and offer suggestions for future research. This use of ethos effectively establishes the authors as experts in their field and increases the credibility of their argument.

Pathos: Sutherland et al. (2021) use pathos sparingly but effectively. The authors describe the impact of gun viole