A Lesson on Rhetorical Devices:
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
How do argument and
persuasion play a role in your
academic life? In your personal
life?
What is Rhetoric?
Rhetoric (n) - the art of persuasive speech
and writing
– According to Aristotle, rhetoric is "the ability, in
each particular case, to see the available
means of persuasion." He described three main
forms of rhetoric: Ethos, Logos, and Pathos.
In order to be a more effective writer, you must understand these three terms.
You will better understand their meanings which will make your writing more
persuasive.
Three Forms of Rhetoric…
Ethos
Logos
Pathos
Ethos (Credibility)
Ethos: the source's credibility, the
speaker's/author's authority
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.
Ethos Example:
Product: George Foreman and his Grilling
Machine
Repertoire: Boxing Champ and a Preacher
Why is George Foreman credible?
Logos (Logical)
Logos: the logic used to support a claim
(induction and deduction); can also be the
facts and statistics used to help support the
argument.
– Persuading by the use of reasoning.
– An effective and persuasive reason that
supports your ideas.
Logos Example:
Idea: Students should be allowed to use cell
phones during school hours.
– If….then
– Statistics, data
– Universal truths
List three supporting facts and/or statistics that
will support the aforementioned idea.
Logos Example continued…
Few of our children breath fresh air in their schools, which are being sprayed, inside and out, with millions of pounds of deadly, nervous system destroying pesticides.
What are the details provided in this claim?
Pathos (Emotional)
Pathos: persuading by appealing to the
reader's emotions. Emotional appeals, are
used to persuade. Language choice affects
the audience's emotional response, and
emotional appeal can effectively be used to
enhance an argument.
Fear, anger, pity are influential emotions
Pathos Example:
How does this
advertisement appeal
to emotion? Why?
CRASH (2004 Paul Haggis
Identify rhetorical
strategies in each
clip (note: the
characters are
using rhetoric to
persuade each
other, and the film is
using it to persuade
the viewer)
Questions
a. Rhetorical question: thoughtful questions
that aren’t meant to be answered.
i. Can we really expect the school to keep
paying from its limited resources?
b. Hypophora: asking a question and
answering it.
i. But what was the result of this move on
the steel industry? The annual reports for that
year clearly indicate. . . .
Description and Imagery
a. Imagine being cast out into the
cold street, lonely and frightened.
Parallel structures
a. To show kindness is praiseworthy;
to show hatred is evil.
The ‘rule of three’
a. I ask you, is this fair, is it right, is it just?
Anaphora: the intentional repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning
of a line for emphasis.
a. Will he read the book? Will he learn what it has to teach him?
Will he live according to what he has learned?
b. Not time, not money, not laws, but willing diligence will get this
done.
Hyperbole (using exaggeration for effect)
a. While we await your decision, the whole school holds its
breath.
Anecdote
a. An anecdote is a short and interesting story taken from
your past experience - or that of someone you know or have
heard about. Audiences love anecdotes.
Euphemisms and connotation
a. overweight vs. fat
b. issue vs. problem
Downplaying and understating
a. Using key words to make important things seem
unimportant
i. Mere, merely, so-called, however, although, despite
Expressing things in such a way as to understate it’s
importance
i. The earthquake interrupted business somewhat in the
downtown area.
Distinctio
a. The intentional reference or definition of a word in
order to remove confusion, misunderstanding or
ambiguity
i. By “impossible” I mean currently beyond our
technological capabilities
Apophasis
a. The raising of an issue by claiming not to mention
it
i. We won’t even talk about his criminal record…
PATHOS?
LOGOS?
Which rhetorical strategy is most persuasive?
https://youtu.be/JYzCiftp1vI