ENG101 Exam 2 Study Guide Exam date: Thursday, 10-15

Argument: Appeals to audiences Pathos: Generates emotions – Empathy, sympathy Ethos: Based on ethics, what is right and wrong – Ethics Logos: Based on logic, what makes sense, uses reasons & evidence – Logic

Uses for Pathos: To Build Bridges “I feel your pain.” 1 st ) assurances, 2 nd ) trust Help readers identify with your experiences

Appeals to audiences: Ethos Trustworthiness/credibility + – A person/group/institution is [not] trustworthy or credible on this issue. Authority + – A person/group/institution does [not] have the authority to speak on this issue. Unselfish or clear motives = – A person/group/institution does [not] have unselfish or clear motives for addressing this subject. ETHOS

Ethos: How to establish credibility Humor + reasonable claims w/ evidence Connecting your own beliefs to core principles that are well established & widely respected Use language that shows your respect for readers’ intelligence

Ethos: Claiming authority Reader asks: – What does the author know about the subject? – What experiences does she have that make her especially knowledgeable? – Why should I pay attention to this writer? Title with name – Dr. Smith – Professor Johnson – President O’Malley

Appeals to audiences: Logos Providing hard evidence Ethics of evidence – Good evidence vs. slanted/fabricated evidence

Logos: Facts Just because someone says it’s true doesn’t mean it is true. Internet age Do you think it’s harder to believe “facts” in 2015 than it was to believe “facts” in 1915?

Logos: Statistics Stats need interpretation by writers. – Often those writers have their own agendas that shape the interpretations. Just because they are often misused doesn’t mean they are meaningless. Ask basic questions: – Who compiled/computed the stats? Where? When? Why? – Sample composition, methodology – Self-reported/voluntary vs. mandatory

Logos: Surveys & Polls live/video/census/n live/video/census/n12816 Question poll numbers, especially when they represent your point of view. It’s not wrong to be suspicious/skeptical. How are the questions asked? When was the poll taken?

Logos: Testimonies & Narratives Associated with ethos (credibility) Court testimony, deposition Personal narrative

Logos: Structures Degree—very common structure – More of a good thing = good – Less of a bad thing = good Analogies—complex or extended comparisons Precedent—comparison of current argument with a similar argument previously settled

Fallacies What are they? Faulty reasoning of some kind. Fallacies of emotional argument (pathos) Fallacies of ethical argument (ethos) Fallacies of logical argument (logos)

Fallacies of Pathos Scare tactics—Exaggerating possible dangers beyond their statistical likelihood – Can be used to stampede legitimate fears into panic or prejudice Slippery slope—Portrays today’s tiny misstep as tomorrow’s slide into disaster. – Ideas and actions do have consequences, but they aren’t always as dire as predicted by “slippery slope” users. –

Fallacies of Pathos Bandwagon appeals—Urge people to follow the same path that everyone else is taking.

Fallacies of Ethos Ad hominem—Attack the character of a person rather than the claims he/she makes – Stacking the deck—Show only one side of the story (the one in the arguer’s favor)

Fallacies: Logos Hasty generalization: Inference drawn from insufficient evidence – Done a lot in advertising – Bacon club chulupa: Faulty causality (aka post hoc, ergo propter hoc)— Faulty assumption that because one event or action follows another, the first causes the second. – Salsa! (my personal story)

Fallacies: Logos Non sequitur—Argument whose claims, reasons or warrants don’t connect logically. – You must not love me because you didn’t buy me that bicycle. – Logic: love = buying me what I want Straw man—Attack an argument that isn’t really there –

Fallacies: Logos Red herring—Changes the subject abruptly to throw readers/listeners “off the trail” – Sarah Palin: