English 124-Advanced Composition: Critical Reasoning & Writing Instructor: Sydney Brown

ARISTOTLES PERSUASIVE APPEALS / RHETORICAL STRATEGIES: LOGOS, ETHOS, AND PATHOS

Whenever you read an argument, you should begin by asking yourself, Is this persuasive? And if so, to whom? There are several ways a writer can appeal to an audience. Among them are appealing to logos, ethos, and pathos. These appeals are prevalent in almost all arguments.

To Appeal to Logic (logos) The author attempts to persuade by using

reasoning.

To Appeal with Credibility (ethos) The author attempts to persuade

with his/her character.

To Appeal to Emotions (pathos) The author attempts to persuade by appealing to

emotions.

Focuses attention on the quality of the messagethat is, on the internal consistency

and clarity of the argument itself and on the logic of its reasons and support

Focuses attention on the writers character, or credibility, as it is projected in the messagein other words, how

the author comes across in his or her argument

Focuses attention on the emotions, values, beliefs, and imaginations of audience

Writer Employs: Writer Employs: Writer Employs: Clear major and minor claims Cohesive and coherent reasoning Theoretical, abstract language Denotative meanings / reasons Literal and historical analogies Factual data and statistics Quotations Citations from experts and authorities Informed opinions

Language appropriate to audience and subject Restrained, sincere, fair minded tone Informed, intelligent tone Appropriate level of vocabulary Awareness of complexity of issue Acknowledgment of other opinions Flawless proofreading Care with regards to appearance of argument Correct grammar and punctuation

Tangible, concrete language Emotionally loaded language Connotative meanings Emotional examples Vivid descriptions Narratives of emotional events Emotional tone Figurative language (metaphors and similes)

Effect on Audience: Effect on Audience: Effect on Audience: Evokes cognitive and rational response Author is respected (even likeable), seen as trustworthy

and credible with a certain level of expertise Appeals to imagination and feelingstheir capacity to feel and see what the writer feels and sees and to perhaps a deeper appreciation of the arguments significance

Example: Example: Example: One should not smoke, as the Surgeon General reports that cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer.

While smoking is a challenging addiction to overcome, it is vital to do so.

Susan never had the opportunity to have that mother-daughter talk, as when she was twelve, she lost her mothera lifelong smokerto lung cancer.