Download EthospathosLogos revised

Rhetoric = The Art of Persuasion
The history of rhetoric and the concepts of
ethos, pathos and logos began in Greece.
Unit IV Student Skills
• By the end of the unit, you should be able to…
• Arrive at an accurate understanding of an informational text
through close reading, annotation, opportunities for discussion,
and other appropriate strategies. (R.I.1.1)
• Propose a plausible central idea of an argumentative text, and
provide an objective summary of the text. (RI.1.2)
• Speak coherently about a text, including opinion when
appropriate and relevant to text/context; support ideas and
opinions using the text itself, other texts, and logical thought.
(SL.1.3)
• Propose a claim, defend that claim with evidence, address
possible counterclaims, and apply certain rhetorical techniques
they see great writers or speakers utilizing. (RI.3.8)
• Identify fallacies if present and determine if these fallacies hurt
the argument (RI.3.8)
As you hear or read an argument you should ask yourself:
1. Is the argument persuasive?
2. To whom is the argument persuasive?
Ethos, Pathos and Logos
1.
Ethos = an ethical or moral argument
2.
Pathos = an emotional argument
3.
Logos = a logical argument
Ethos
The word "ethos" came from the Greek word ethikos meaning moral
or showing moral character. Aristotle contends that a speaker must
establish moral credibility in the minds of the audience at the
beginning of his or her speech. In order to do so, the speaker must
show that he or she has expertise in the subject matter of the
speech and that he or she is disconnected from topic (i.e., the
speaker does not and will not have a direct interest or an ulterior
motive for convincing their audience).
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.
***For example, when a trusted doctor gives
you advice, you may not understand all of the
medical reasoning behind the advice, but you
nonetheless follow the directions because you
believe that the doctor knows what s/he is
talking about.
Ethos = an appeal to ethics
• Ethos is an effective persuasive strategy because when we
believe that the speaker does not intend to do us harm, we
are more willing to listen to what s/he has to say.
Pathos
• Pathos: Pathos is related to the words pathetic,
sympathy and empathy.
• Whenever you accept a claim based on how it makes
you feel without fully analyzing the rationale behind the
claim, you are acting on pathos.
• Those who wish to persuade you will play with your
emotions. They may persuade you with fear, love,
patriotism, guilt, hate or joy.
• Emotional connection can be created in many ways by a
speaker, perhaps most notably by stories, but also
anecdotes, analogies, similes, and metaphors is often to
link an aspect of our primary message with a triggered
emotional response from the audience.
Pathos = an emotional argument
• An effective use of pathos will alter the mindsets of the
audience through the use of emotional appeal.
• Both words and pictures can achieve this appeal. In this
picture, Haitian children are collecting water. Children
and adults spend all day digging for water because most
of Haiti does not have access to water.
Logos
Logos means logic
• To make the audience think about what is
presented to it
• Statistics, facts, authorities, etc…
• Very straightforward, and not “fluff”. It has a
very scientific, factual approach.
• EFFECT: Evokes a cognitive, rationale response
Logos
Slide 3
• Deductive reasoning:
– Begins with a generalization
– Cites a specific case related to the
generalization
– Ends with a conclusion
Slide 4
Logos
• Example of deductive reasoning: (from
Aristotle)
– All men are mortal. (generalization)
– Socrates is a man. (specific case)
– Socrates is mortal. (conclusion about the
specific case)
Slide 5
Logos
• Inductive reasoning:
– Begins with several pieces of specific
evidence
– Draws generalization and conclusion from this
evidence
Logos
Slide 6
• Same example switched to inductive
reasoning:
– Socrates is mortal. Plato is mortal.
Pythagoras is mortal. (specific cases)
– All men are mortal. (generalization and
conclusion)
Now it’s your turn. N
1. Get a post it note out. (Only 1 per buddy)
2. Come up with three examples of
deductive reasoning.
3. Come up with two examples of inductive
reasoning.
4. Go!
REVIEW
Ethos, Pathos and Logos
1.
Ethos = an ethical or moral argument
2.
Pathos = an emotional argument
3.
Logos = a logical argument