"My Genome, My Self" by Steven Pinker

Steven Pinker, a psychology researcher and Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, writes "My Genome, My Self" to discuss discovering oneself. As a psychologist, he states that he has had "access to tools that allow you to carry out the injunction to know thyself." He focuses this essay on one of those tools – genome sequencing. Throughout the piece, Pinker explores what genome sequencing can and can't tell him about himself. "My Genome, My Self" was written as an informative piece directed towards a college-age and above audience who can understand some scientific language.
Much of the beginning of the essay discusses how one's genes can affect personality traits. Pinker writes, "[Genes] affect the wiring and workings of the brain, and the brain is the seat of our drives, temperaments, and patterns of thought." Since he is a psychologist, readers know that Pinker states valid information, and through this appeal to ethos, he gets closer to achieving his purpose.
When discussing the results of his genome sequencing, Pinker adopts a more casual form of diction to connect with readers. He asks, "Who wouldn't be flattered to learn that he has two genes associated with higher IQ and one linked to a taste for novelty?" Casual diction makes Pinker's discussion of his positive traits unpretentious and makes his audience more comfortable reading about his genes. Towards the end of the essay, Pinker introduces his opinions on knowing oneself. He writes, "So if you are bitten by scientific or personal curiosity... by all means enjoy the fruits of personal genomics. But ... if you want to know whether you are good at math, take a math test." By directly addressing his audience, Pinker creates a stronger connection between himself and his readers and, as a result, successfully shares his opinion.
Through ethical appeal, Pinker effectively informs his audience about genome sequencing and how it can be used to learn about oneself. He then wraps up his essay by using pathetic appeal to show readers that to truly know oneself, one must figure it out – there is no foolproof scientific way to do so.

Personal Genomics:

Our genomes are made of unique (except in identical twins) combinations of G's, C's, A's, and T's, and they determine our appearances and (possibly, as Pinker discusses) our personalities.

(Source: http://www.jenometech.com/product.php)