In the Taking A Stand essay, my topic is an argument for a living wage Federal minimum v. the current “market value” wage.

Substantiation- This part of the essay is when I lay out the facts concerning the Federal Minimum Wage history and current law.

Evaluation- Here, is a use of a comparative statement between “crumbling local businesses” and that the raise “will inflate local economies and raise the quality of life for millions of Americans.”

Policy-  Cited is a study conducted by UC-Berkeley in which data collected over 20 years concludes that in cities where the minimum wage is raised over 80%, jobs were not lost, but in the private sector grew on average, and local businesses offset the biggest “new costs” by keeping workers on the payroll and happy to work.

Source

Ethos- Brought up is FDR’s signing of the Fair Labor and Standards Act of 1938, as well supporting facts surrounding the current states of affairs when it comes to American lower middle-class life.

Pathos- A comparison is made between how a living wage looks for a family of 3 v. a life for that family living on $7.25/hour to incite emotions when the audience reads this part.

Logos- To add weight to the argument, such statements as “personal finances were much less complex in 1938 than they are today.” Also, that 40% of Americans make less than the 1968 Federal Minimum Wage.

-Daniel Bell