A Lesson on Rhetorical Devices: Ethos, Pathos, Logos

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A Lesson on Rhetorical DevicesEthos, Pathos,
Logos
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What is Rhetoric?

• Rhetoric (n) - the art of speaking or writing
  effectively (Webster's Definition).
• According to Aristotle, rhetoric is "the ability,
  in each particular case, to see the available
  means of persuasion." He described three main
  forms of rhetoric Ethos, Logos, and Pathos.
• In order to be a more effective writer, you must
  understand these three terms. You will better
  understand their meanings which will make your
  writing more persuasive.

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Three Forms of Rhetoric

• Whenever you read or listen to an argument, you
  must ask yourself, 
• Is this persuasive? And if so, to whom?
•  There are several ways to appeal to an
  audience.   
• Ethos
• Logos
• Pathos

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Ethos (Credibility)

• Ethos the source's credibility, the
  speaker's/author's authority
• We tend to believe people whom we respect. One of
  the central problems of argumentation is to
  project an impression to the reader that you are
  someone worth listening to, in other words making
  yourself as author into an authority on the
  subject of the paper, as well as someone who is
  likable and worthy of respect.
• Apollo Anton Ohno

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Ethos Example

• Product George Foreman and his Grilling Machine
• Repertoire Boxing Champ and a Preacher
• Why is George Foreman credible?

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Logos (Logical)

• Logos the logic used to support a claim
  (induction and deduction) can also be the facts
  and statistics used to help support the argument.
  
• Persuading by the use of reasoning.
• An effective and persuasive reason that supports
  your ideas.
• Apple

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Logos Example

• Idea Students should be allowed to use cell
  phones during school hours.
• List three supporting facts and/or statistics
  that will support the aforementioned idea.

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Pathos

• This is an appeal to emotion.
• Emotional appeals, are used to persuade. Language
  choice affects the audience's emotional response,
  and emotional appeal can effectively be used to
  enhance an argument.
• How? Anecdotal writing or narratives within
  persuasive writing

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Logos Example continued

• Few of our children breath fresh air in their
  schools, which are being sprayed, inside and out,
  with millions of pounds of deadly, nervous system
  destroying pesticides.
• What are the details provided in this claim?

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Pathos Example

• How does this advertisement appeal to emotion?
  Why?

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Pathos Example continued

• America's older citizens have rightly been
  called the "greatest generation." It is morally
  unacceptable that the people that built this
  country -- our senior citizens -- should suffer
  hunger in a land of plenty, which they helped to
  create.
• -from Americas Second Harvest program