Donna Hickss Analysis

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In 2011, Donna Hicks wrote her book Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict. Hicks’ Ph.D. in educational psychology and twenty years of experience in international conflict resolution allowed her to write this text about psychological injuries to a person 's sense of self-worth. In her text, Donna Hicks discusses the damaging effects a negative authoritative figure could have, especially on young children and their dignity. Also mentioned is how impressionable children can be and how those impressions can follow them into adulthood. The author’s intended audience appears to be anyone interested in remedying their psychological injuries and improving their sense of self-appreciation. Hicks’ reasoning for composing this text …show more content…

The first example used is a personal example that provides pathos . Hicks states that she went to a friend’s son’s birthday party and the son, Seth, got humiliated. Seth’s father told him to “toughen up” while his mother tried to comfort him. The altercation was uncomfortable for Hicks and her husband. This specific example contains both imagery and pathos. The author uses specific words and phrases to set the stage for the reader. When describing the setting of the party, she writes “The dinner table was set underneath a huge maple tree strung with little white lights.” In this sentence, the author uses the words huge, little, and white to aid the reader in forming a mental image of the host’s backyard. Hicks wishes for the reader to be inserted into the setting so they will be more entertained and interested. As the story progresses, she adds pathos in an attempt to get the reader invested. Hicks includes charged phrases such as “Margot stormed out of the room” and “Seth left the room with his chin on his chest…”. By doing this, the author draws the audience in and keeps them captivated. Pathos, in this case, also successfully provides a feeling of sympathy for the young boy. Providing a feeling of sympathy allows the author to depict the negative effects of damage to one 's dignity. By using this personal example first, the reader is intrigued because they may have experienced …show more content…

She writes “The purpose [of examining our early experiences] is to uncover the truth about… our unworthiness.” The main reason Hicks wrote this piece is to aid others in overcoming their sense of unworthiness. Her purpose is to help people realize their potential problems. Through saying this, she makes her purpose apparent so the reader is not left guessing about its’ significance.
The final example Hicks uses is that of a man who won an award but still felt underappreciated. By including this example, she shows how severe the effects of a low sense of dignity can be. Also through this example, she discusses the steps needed to be taken to overcome a low sense of dignity issue. When she writes this, the reader can tell that Hicks is genuine in her purpose; she wants to help the reader rediscover their true worthiness.
The last two paragraphs of Hicks’ work are spent restating the significance of overcoming dignity issues. She tells the reader of the importance of healing “internal wounds”. The author communicates her purpose so often and clear throughout her piece to get through to her audience. She wants to make sure that the reader understands her text’s purpose

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