Kristof's Signature Style

Nicholas D. Kristof, opinion editor of The New York Times, aims to rid his audience of ignorance on prevalent issues occurring around the world. Kristof, an avid human rights activist, writes frequently about human rights to enlighten his audience on the controversy. He also writes about topics such as the deteriorating education system and the economic inequality in America. Kristof educates his audience on a litany of topics through his appeals to logic, anecdotes, and a definite shift from analysis to his opinion. Kristof effectively utilizes these strategies to convince his audience to consider his point of view.

In his columns, Kristof appeals to his audience’s logic through quantitative data. For example, in a column on human trafficking Kristof says, “A U.N. agency estimates that more than 12 million people are engaged in forced labor, including sexual servitude.” (“Fighting Back”). Kristof perplexes his audience with this statistic because the large number of people forced into labor indistinguishable from slavery. This statistic illustrates the immensity of the problem worldwide, putting the concern into perspective for Kristof’s audience. He also utilizes quantitative data when he says, “By my calculations, at least 10 times as many girls are now trafficked into brothels annually as African slaves were transported to the New World in the peak years of transatlantic slave trade.” (“The Face of Modern Slavery”). Since Kristof includes his own research here, it establishes his credibility as he has thoroughly researched this topic. He makes a historical reference as well when he compares this new form of slavery to the older form. Including that in his column convinces his audience of the enormity of the human trafficking...

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Works Cited

Kristof, Nicholas. "Fighting Back, One Brothel Raid at a Time." New York Times [New York] 12

11 2011, n. pag. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. sunday/kristof-fighting-back-one-brothel-raid-at-a-time.html>. --- "Girls Just Want to Go to School." New York Times [New York] 9 11 2011, n. pag. Web. 20

Nov. 2011. to-school.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss>. ---"Occupy The Agenda." New York Times [New York] 19 Nov 2011, n. pag. Web. 6 Dec. 2011.

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---"The Face of Modern Slavery." New York Times [New York] 16 Nov 2011, n. pag. Web. 5

Dec. 2011.

slavery.html>.