DATA COMMENTARY.

The chapter by Swales & Feak (1994) highlights important technical considerations that need to be considered in the way language is used when writing for academic purposes. Since I am well-acquainted with these observations, I wish to divert my attention and write a few basic sentences on the equally important role of rhetoric in writing, since both the language we use, as well as the way we use language in our academic writing, go hand in hand. Effective rhetoric embodies three fundamental elements: logos, pathos, and ethos (principles that can be applied as easily to writing as to speaking). The first of these ancient Greek rhetorical insights is the need for logos - the way we write (and essentially argue) in our academic writing should be logical and reflect a comfortable grasp of the knowledge we are dealing with. The second, pathos, alludes to the need for our reasoning to appeal to the emotions and values of our audience (the reader). The third and final principle is the need to establish ethos - to convince the audience that you (the writer) are trustworthy because you are not only knowledgeable, but have sincere ethical motives in the reason for your enquiry. As such, rhetoric therefore concerns itself with persuading our audience (the reader), and this should be the aim of all good - and effective - academic writing.