The Dangers of vaccine denial
Column Published February 7, 2015
In this op-ed, Kristof discusses the new upper-class American fad of not vaccinating children. Throughout the piece, Kristof uses high formal diction, utelizing words like "scaremongering" and "emblematic." Whenever a writer uses high formal diction, it gives readers the impressions that the writer is intelligent and knows what they are talking about. Even though the diction is formal, the op-ed also has a somewhat comedic tone. The article opens with: "In a few backward parts of the world, extremists resist universal childhood vaccinations. The Taliban in tribal areas of Pakistan. Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria. Oh yes, one more: Some politicians in the United States." This accomplishes the goal of showing how ridiculous it is that people in the US do not vaccinate their children. However, Kristof does it in a humorous way instead of an attacking way. Another technique used by Kristof in this op-ed is an appeal to pathos. Kristof appeals to pathos by telling the story of Rylee Beck, a five year old girl with leukemia. This examples pulls on people's heartstrings and shows them that if they do not vaccinate their children, all children like Rylee are at risk.
In this op-ed, Kristof discusses the new upper-class American fad of not vaccinating children. Throughout the piece, Kristof uses high formal diction, utelizing words like "scaremongering" and "emblematic." Whenever a writer uses high formal diction, it gives readers the impressions that the writer is intelligent and knows what they are talking about. Even though the diction is formal, the op-ed also has a somewhat comedic tone. The article opens with: "In a few backward parts of the world, extremists resist universal childhood vaccinations. The Taliban in tribal areas of Pakistan. Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria. Oh yes, one more: Some politicians in the United States." This accomplishes the goal of showing how ridiculous it is that people in the US do not vaccinate their children. However, Kristof does it in a humorous way instead of an attacking way. Another technique used by Kristof in this op-ed is an appeal to pathos. Kristof appeals to pathos by telling the story of Rylee Beck, a five year old girl with leukemia. This examples pulls on people's heartstrings and shows them that if they do not vaccinate their children, all children like Rylee are at risk.