Ethos, Pathos, Logos

How do you appeal to an audience?

A. Lydigsen

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Whenever you read an argument you must ask yourself, Is this persuasive? And if so, to whom? There are several ways to appeal to an audience. Ethos, Pathos, Logos These appeals are prevalent in almost all arguments

Logos

Appeal to Logic Theoretical or abstract language Literal and historical analogies Definitions Factual Data and Statistics Quotations Citations from experts and authorities Informed Opinions

Ethos

Appeal to Morals/Ethics Language appropriate to audience and subject Restrained, sincere, fair-minded presentation Appropriate level of vocabulary Correct grammar

Pathos
Appeal to Emotions Vivid and concrete language Emotionally loaded language Emotional examples Narratives of emotional events Emotional tone Figurative language

Effects of Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Logos evokes a cognitive, rationale response Ethos demonstrates the authors reliability, competence, and respect for the audiences ideas and values through appropriate use of support Pathos evokes an emotional response

Definition Logos

Logos: This Greek word is the basis for the English word Logic Logos refers to any attempt to appeal to the intellect (academic arguments) There will be logical chains of reasoning supporting ALL claims

Definition Ethos

Ethos: Related to the English word ethics and refers to the trustworthiness of the speaker/writer 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 he/she has to say

Example Ethos

Example of Ethos: 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 he/she is talking about

Definition Pathos

Pathos: 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.

Definition Pathos

Pathos Continued They may be any emotions: love, fear, patriotism, guilt, hate, or joy A majority of arguments in the popular press are heavily dependent on pathetic appeals. Appeals to pathos touch a nerve and compel people to not only listen, but also take the next step and act in the world

Activity 1: Quickwrite

Think of something you tried to persuade a parent, boss, or a friend to do or believe. It could be to buy or pay for something, to left you go early from work, or to go somewhere, etc. What type of persuasion did you use? Write a short description of your efforts to persuade your audience and describe the type of persuasion that you used to convince your audience. Were you successful? If not, what could you have done to change the outcome?

Video Clips 1-4

9-12

Analyze each film clip and examine examples of ethos, pathos, and logos In each box decide which type of persuasion is being used and how (give the specific examples) Examine the effect of the persuasion. Be detailed and specific in your analysis Was the person effective?

Activity 2: Group Skits

In a group of four, you must write and perform a skit about trying to persuade someone about something you desire to do. Each skit should employ logical, emotional, and ethical persuasion