Ethos, Logos, Pathos

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Ethos, Logos, Pathos

• Elements of Persuasion in
• Speech to the Virginia Convention

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The Rhetorical Triangle

• We think of an argument as a triangle for a
  couple of reasons
• A triangle gives a sense of interdependence. All
  three aspects of the argument play an equal part.
• A triangle is undivided pathos, logos, and ethos
  are inseparable from one another and often blend
  together.

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The Rhetorical Triangle cont.
Logos the appeal of the argument itself its
logic, its consistency, its reasonability
Ethos the arguments appeal on basis of the
speakers position
Pathos the arguments appeal to the audience
through emotion or shared values and beliefs
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Logos

• Logos refers to the appeal of the argument
  itself
• Are the claims reasonable?
• Does the evidence support the claims well?
• Does the speaker make logical conclusions?
• Does she or he address counter-arguments or other
  opinions and points of view?

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Ethos

• Ethos can also be thought of as authority or
  character. Who a person is their position,
  credentials, or how he or she presents herself of
  himself creates ethos.
• A persons point of view will give him or her
  stronger ethos in some cases, less strong in
  others.
• For example
• Who has a stronger ethos in an argument about
  foreign affairs, the President, or a high school
  student? Why?
• Who has a stronger ethos in an argument about the
  psychology of young people, the President or a
  high school student? Why?

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Ethos cont.

• Ethos, like all three parts of the rhetorical
  triangle, intermingles with the other two parts
  a paper with a strong logos (consistency, logic)
  will also have a positive effect on the writers
  ethos.

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Pathos

• Pathos refers to an appeal to the audience of an
  argument. An appeal to pathos can be emotional
  moving an audience to anger or tears is a means
  of persuasion.
• An appeal to pathos can stem from
• Shared values between the speaker and audience
• An argument that caters to an audiences beliefs

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Whats the Point?

• To show that pathos, ethos, and logos work
  together to form credible and effective
  arguments
• Where do you see pathos and logos in Speech to
  the Virginia Convention?