Download Ethos, Pathos, Logos

The Power of Persuasion:
Aristotle’s Three Appeals
Potyk( as adapted by Loun)/English11A/
Over 2,000 years ago, Aristotle identified three clusters of emotion and experience that persuade
the human brain.
Appeal #1:
Ethos
Def: Ethos is appealing to the authority or credibility of the speaker or writer in order to persuade
the listener.
Ethos is created through:
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Known experience
Expertise or reputation
Credentials, certifications, professional standing
In what circumstances would this appeal be effective?
Appeal #2:
Pathos
Def: Pathos is using emotions to persuade, most notably pity or empathy.
Pathos can also persuade by inducing any of the following:
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Guilt
Love
Security
Greed
Humor
In what circumstances would this appeal be effective?
Appeal #3:
Logos
Def: Logos is using logic, facts, evidence to persuade.
Logos is invoked through the use of the following:
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Details in writing (like photographs in evidence)
Statistics, if gathered with reliable methods
Expert testimony (and it's ethos that establishes the expert's expertise)
Facts (often subject to definition)
Definitions as used in the discipline being discussed
In what circumstances would this appeal be effective?
5
Directions: Find examples of ethos, pathos and logos in this film. BE SPECIFIC (identify scene)!
ETHOS (Credibility)
PATHOS (Emotion)
LOGOS (Logic, Facts)