Download The 3 Rhetorical Appeals

The 3 Rhetorical Appeals
Appeals to Logic
“The goal of argumentative writing is to
persuade your audience that your ideas are
valid, or more valid than someone else's. The
Greek philosopher Aristotle divided the means
of persuasion, appeals, into three categories-Ethos, Pathos, Logos.” (Durham Tech
Community College)
ETHO
S
What is Ethos?
Ethos appeals to the audience’s ethics and
morals. It creates trust between the audience and
the writer, which ultimately supports the argument
because if the audience trusts the writer, they are
more likely to be convinced and take the writer’s
side.
When is it appropriate?
Ethos is used to show good
character and the author’s
reliability.
Examples
"I have pledged myself and my colleagues in the cabinet to a continuous
encouragement of initiative, responsibility and energy in serving the public
interest. Let every public servant know, whether his post is high or low, that a
man's rank and reputation in this Administration will be determined by the
size of the job he does, and not by the size of his staff, his office or his
budget. Let it be clear that this Administration recognizes the value of dissent
and daring -- that we greet healthy controversy as the hallmark of healthy
change. Let the public service be a proud and lively career. And let every
man and woman who works in any area of our national government, in any
branch, at any level, be able to say with pride and with honor in future years:
'I served the United States Government in that hour of our nation's need.'"John F. Kennedy
PATHOS
What is Pathos?
Pathos is the emotional appeal through
writing. It uses emotion to persuade the
audience of thinking a certain way.
Pathos is used when the reader believes
something based on how they feel or
what emotions were used.
When is it appropriate?
Pathos is used when the author is
trying to convince the audience to
support their claim by getting them
to feel a certain emotion. The
author tends to evoke pity from
their audience through pathos.
Examples
“We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans
sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty; that sits on its
hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes.”
-Barack Obama Night Before the Election Speech Manassas, Prince
William County, Virginia November 3, 2008
"I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great
trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail
cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and
staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the
veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that
unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to
Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to
Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities,
knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.”
- I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. August 28th, 1963.
LOGOS
What is Logos?
Logos is persuasive argument through logical
reasoning. It mainly focuses on arguing a
claim by showing the logical explanations
behind it.
It is Greek for “word” and refers to the clarity of
the argument, how effective the supporting
arguments are, and the logical reasoning.
Because of this it is also called the “logical
appeal,” “logical proof,” and “rational appeal.”
When is it appropriate?
Logos is used when an author is trying to
explain his or her point of view through the use
of logical reasoning. This is important in any
number of essays, particularly scholarly
articles or other types of formal writing.
It is used when an author wants to argue their
point by citing sources with correct facts and
figures, clarifying historical facts, and citing
experts on the subject they are trying to
explain.
Examples
“Nevertheless it represents eighty-five percent of the members of the Greek
Parliament who were chosen in an election last year. Foreign observers,
including 692 Americans, considered this election to be a fair expression of
the views of the Greek people.”
-The Truman Doctrine
“Two major studies from military intelligence experts have warned our leaders
about the dangerous national security implications of the climate crisis,
including the possibility of hundreds of millions of climate refugees
destabilizing nations around the world. Just two days ago, 27 senior
statesmen and retired military leaders warned of the national security threat
from an “energy tsunami” that would be triggered by a loss of our access to
foreign oil. Meanwhile, the war in Iraq continues, and now the war in
Afghanistan appears to be getting worse.”
-Al Gore "A Generational Challenge to Repower America" July 17th 2008
Works Cited
Arizona State University. “Logos, Ethos and Pathos.” 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.
< http://www.public.asu.edu/~macalla/logosethospathos.html>
Durham Tech Community College. "Ethos, Pathos, and Logos." Durham Tech Courses
Server. Durham Tech. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.
<http://courses.durhamtech.edu/perkins/aris.html>.
Gore, Al. “A Genreational Challenge to Repower America.” DAR Congressional Hall,
Washington D.C.. 17 July 2008.
Kennedy, John F. “State of the Union Message.” Congress, Washington D.C. 30 January
1961.
Nordquist, Richard. "Logos." Grammar and Composition - Homepage of About Grammar and
Composition. About.com. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.
<http://grammar.about.com/od/il/g/logosterm.htm>.
Pathos Ethos Logos. “Ethos, Pathos, Logos Explanation and Examples.” 2011. Web. 28
Nov. 2011. < http://pathosethoslogos.com/>