What is the main strategy when using an appeal to pity in argumentation?

The primary strategy when employing an appeal to pity in argumentation is to encourage sympathy from the audience. This technique leverages emotional responses to establish a connection between the speaker and the audience, prompting the audience to feel compassion or sorrow for an individual or a situation.

By invoking feelings of pity, the speaker aims to sway the audience's judgment or decision-making process, often encouraging them to adopt a viewpoint not based solely on logical reasoning but rather on emotional engagement. This strategy can be particularly persuasive when the audience feels a strong emotional connection to the subject matter, making them more likely to respond favorably to the argument presented.

In contrast, presenting data to support a claim focuses on logical reasoning rather than appealing to emotions, while highlighting consensus involves demonstrating agreement among experts or the public, which relies more on factual corroboration. Similarly, focusing on the benefits of a solution is grounded in practical outcomes rather than emotional resonance. Thus, the appeal to pity distinctly prioritizes emotional engagement over analytical or factual persuasion.