What does an emotional appeal in persuasive writing aim to do?

An emotional appeal in persuasive writing aims to connect with the audience on a personal level by eliciting feelings such as empathy, anger, fear, or joy. This technique seeks to engage the audience’s emotions, making them more receptive to the overall message or argument presented. By appealing to feelings, writers can create a strong bond with their readers, motivating them to act or change their viewpoint based on how they feel about a particular issue or situation.

The other options focus on different methods of persuasion. Targeting the audience's logic involves using rational arguments and logical reasoning, which falls under logos. Presenting only factual information is a more objective approach that may lack emotional engagement. Likewise, using statistical data exclusively emphasizes quantitative information without channeling any emotional response, which can limit the effectiveness of persuasion. Thus, an emotional appeal is distinct in its focus on feelings rather than rationality or pure data.