Transcript Ethos_Pathos_Logos

Ethos, Pathos, Logos
The Three Appeals
of Argument
Rhetoric
Approximately 2300 years ago Aristotle
wrote a piece, On Rhetoric, in which he
laid out the three elements of
persuasion: ethos, logos and pathos.
 Rhetoric is defined as the art of
persuasion, and Aristotle’s writing on it
is considered a seminal work for other
how-to guides through the years.
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Ethos
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Ethical appeal
Ethos
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Definition: In rhetoric, ethos refers to the values,
credibility, and/or background of the speaker
(e.g. shows that the person making the argument
has a certain degree of credibility, is of good
character and sound sense, and is qualified to be
making the argument)
Environmental issues: Al Gore’s ethos vs. Brad Pitt
Guiding Questions: Are you someone worth listening
to? Do you know what you’re talking about?
Creating Ethos
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Be your best self…act in such as way as to
gain your audience’s trust.
Be(come) an expert on your topic.
Give yourself props…let your audience know
how your past experiences have made you a
credible source.
Talk to your audience. Know who you’re
talking to and speak in terms and with
examples they can understand.
Quote reliable sources.
Pathos
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Emotional appeal
Pathos
Definition: In rhetoric, pathos refers to
emotions/feelings
 It is appropriate to use emotional appeal in
your argument
 Trouble occurs when you make this the sole
or primary basis of your argument
 Guiding Question: Can the reader connect
with you on an emotional level? Can you
make them care about what you are saying?
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Creating Pathos
Use in conjunction with logos to reach your audience
 Emotions appeal to audience more powerfully than
reason alone
 Can be used effectively in anecdotal evidence
 Use humor
 Use analogies (joblessness is a disease infecting our
nation)
 Use words, tones, expressions, gestures, etc that
convey emotion
 Know your audience…universal human emotions and
particular groups’ concerns
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Logos
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Rational appeal
Logos
Definition: In rhetoric, logos refers to
logic/reasoning.
 Based on logical argument & appropriate
evidence
 Logical arguments commonly of two types:
 Deductive
 Inductive
 Guiding Question: Does what you are saying
make sense? Does your evidence add up to
your conclusion?
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Creating Logos
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Be crystal clear….use plain terms and break
everything down
Go through sequences and processes (if a=b
and b=c, then a=c)
Use data and details
Use analogies that they know and understand
Look at the opposing side’s views and counter
them
Use real life examples
Cite research
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Ethos: Are you a
credible source? An
expert? Have you done
your research?
Pathos: Are you
connecting to your
audience on an
emotional level?
Logos: Are your points
rational? Have you
thought this through?
Does your evidence
support your thesis?
Logical
Appeal
(Logos)
Ethical
Appeal
(Ethos)
Persuasive arguments Drink Coca-Cola
that speak to readers’ because it will quench
common sense and
your thirst.
logic.
Persuasive arguments
that address the
readers’ sense of right
and wrong. They also
rely on the reader’s
belief that the writer is
ethical.
Emotional Persuasive arguments
Appeal
aimed at the readers’
(Pathos) hearts. Emotional
appeals speak to
emotions such as fear,
love, sympathy, and
pride. On the negative
side, these appeals
often appeal to
readers’ fears based on
stereotypes.
Drink Coca-Cola
because the
corporation donates
many of its profits to
local charities.
Drink Coca-Cola
because its flavor will
leave you feeling
happy and refreshed.
Tree Map Practice
PERSUASIVE
APPEALS
LOGICAL
ETHICAL
EMOTIONAL
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evidence
feelings
morality
statistics
reasoning
sympathies
facts
laws
human needs
religious beliefs
justice and fairness
shocking anecdotes.
PERSUASIVE
APPEALS
LOGICAL
ETHICAL
EMOTIONAL
An argument
based on evidence
An argument
based on morality
An argument
based on feelings
An argument
based on statistics
An argument
based on laws
An argument
based on
sympathies
An argument
based on
reasoning
An argument
based on religious
beliefs
An argument
based on human
needs
An argument
based on facts
An argument
based on justice
and fairness
An argument
based on shocking
anecdotes.