Identifying Rhetorical Strategies: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos



Rhetorical Strategies: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos

Rhetoric: The art of using language persuasively and effectively

|Logos = Logic |Pathos = Emotion |Ethos = Ethics and Credibility |

|The use of logic, rationality, and critical reasoning to persuade. Logos |The use of emotion and affect to persuade. Pathos appeals to the heart and to |The ongoing establishment of a writer’s or speaker’s |

|appeals to the mind. Logos seeks to persuade the reader intellectually. |one’s emotions. Pathos seeks to persuade the reader emotionally. |authority, credibility, and believability as he/she speaks |

|[pic][pic][pic][pic] |[pic][pic][pic][pic] |or writes. Ethos appeals to ethics and character. Ethos |

|Some Examples of Logos |Some Examples of Pathos |seeks to persuade the reader that the writer/speaker can be |

| | |trusted and believed due to his/her noble character or |

|Appeal to the mind/intellect |Appeal to the heart/emotion |ethical ways in which he/she is presenting ideas. |

|Draw from philosophy and logic |Draw from spirituality or religious traditions |[pic][pic][pic][pic] |

|Facts |Stories or testimonials |Some Examples of Ethos |

|Statistics |Personal anecdotes or stories |Appeal to the writer’s/speaker’s believability, |

|If, then… statements |Personal connections |qualifications, character; relevant biographical information|

|Definitions of terms |Imagery and figurative language that provokes an emotional response |Use of credible sources (experts, scholars) |

|Explanation of ideas |Visual images or words that inspire you to empathize or have compassion towards |Accurate citation of sources: gives credit where credit is |

|Cause and effect |the idea/topic |due |

|Details that come from objective reporting |Powerful words, phrases, or images that stir up emotion |Experience and authority: person knows the issues and has |

|Logical reasons and explanations |Details that come from subjective reporting |experience in the field |

| | |Appropriate language: uses language of the discipline |

| | |Appropriate tone: knows the audience and context of |

| | |situation |

| | |Humility: is not arrogant |

| | |Uses tentative yet authoritative language; avoids sweeping |

| | |statements like “Everyone is doing this,” “This is the only |

| | |way,” “This will always work.” Instead says, “The research |

| | |suggests that,” “Some experts believe,” “In my experience,” |

| | |etc. |

|Logos = Logic |Pathos = Emotion |Ethos = Ethics and Credibility |

| | | |

|"50% of marriages end in divorce" |"My mother died of cancer when I was twelve. I saw her pain and |"Before I was president, I was the governor of New York." |

|Statistic |suffering which is why I want to support cancer research." |Experience and authority of person |

| |Personal anecdote or story | |

| | | |

|Logos |Facts and evidence on how the penalty reduces crime rates |Statistics on numbers of minorities and |

| | |poor people on death row |

|Ethos |Include interviews with death penalty opponents and condemned prisoners |Acknowledge the human nature of an “eye for|

| | |an eye” approach. Demonstrate research on |

| | |the opposing view |

|Pathos |Recount the details of a story of a brutal crime for which the offender |Recount the story of a condemned mentally |

| |was sentenced to death |challenged man who confessed to a crime |

| | |after the police had beaten him |

|Rhetorical Questions: A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected. The answer may be obvious |How much longer must our people endure this injustice? |

|or immediately provided by the questioner. A rhetorical question can be "an effective persuasive device, |If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do it too? |

|subtly influencing the kind of response one wants to get from an audience" (Edward P.J. Corbett). See |What defense to the homeless has, if the government will not protect them? |

|Examples and Observations, below. |How could you (we) possibly….. |

| |Do you really think….. |

| |What would happen if…… |

| |Could your conscience cope with…. |

| |Is it really worth…. |

| |Do you want to be part of……. |

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