Reading Journal “Educated” by Tara Westover (d)
Make sure to answer each question fully and completely showing your thinking and
understanding.
1. What choices do characters make in the reading today? What other choices could
have been made?
One of the choices made in “Educated” was the choice of Tara’s dad to drive during a
snowstorm. Other choices he could’ve made were not to drive home until after the trip was
over. Or maybe wait until morning. Or wait until the storm was over?
2. Share an example of rhetoric from “Educated.”
An example of rhetoric in Educated is the rhetoric used to convince us of the toxicity between
Sadie and Shawn in their relationship. This relationship is talked about throughout the novel,
and there is an art of persuasion I feel that is associated to show how awful Shawn treats
Sadie, which also gives a bigger rebound for when Shawn seems to turn on Tara at the end of
the chapter.
3. Share an example of ethos from “Educated.”
An example of ethos was Shawn’s knowledge of horses. Chapter 11 talks about him, the
grandpa, and Tara would spend summers together with the horses. More specifically, the
harder to tame stallions that roamed the hills. It also discusses how he was the one to train
Bud/Yearling. It’s these things that give him credit towards his ethos. His ethos to show that
he had the authority to help with the horses, and train others like Tara. It also supported that
he could save Tara when she was trapped on Bud.
4. Share an example of logos from “Educated.”
An example of logos is that they have already gotten in a crash coming home from Arizona
while driving during the night. This might not be exactly numbers, and percentages, but it is
still logos. That is because it offers the stats of their likelihood to get into another crash. They
have driven home the night before, and last time it was during the night like they were about
to again. Not to mention the fact that Tara’s dad was going twice the speed limit. These things
add a highly statistical chance that they’d get in a chance again, adding logos.
5. Share an example of pathos from “Educated.”
One example of Pathos was during the part when Shawn cracks her neck back into position.
This is pathos because it gives the argument that he may actually be a good person. Up until
this we hear negative rumors about him. In the chapter just before we hear that “Shawn was
in Jail.” So we’re given under the impression before chapter 11 that he might not be the best.
That is until we hear about his cracking Tara’s neck back into position then we get that
emotional push of, oh he saved her, and maybe he’s a good brother. Especially when he’s
described as a “Fanciful Champion” at the end of chapter 11. These things add that emotional
based pathos.
