How do you appeal to an audience? Ethos, Pathos, Logos How do you appeal to an audience?

rhetoric is… The specific features of texts, written or spoken, that cause them to be meaningful, purposeful, and effective for readers or listeners in a given situation

~ Rhetoric enables writers and speakers to design messages for particular audiences and purposes ~ Language that affects an audience, which informs, moves, delights, and teaches has a rhetorical aim

Ultimately, a writer wants to change readers’ perceptions and thinking, and use[s] both direct and indirect means to do so. Figuring out WHAT the writer is doing is the first step. The HOW is the next step.

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 1 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 2 Credibility of source Appeal to Morals/Ethics Language appropriate to audience and subject Restrained, sincere, fair-minded presentation Appropriate level of vocabulary

Pathos 3 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 4 Logos evokes a cognitive, rationale response Ethos demonstrates the author’s reliability, competence, and respect for the audience’s ideas and values through appropriate use of support Pathos evokes an emotional response

Definition Logos 5 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

Example Logos The analogy given: if someone was pointing a gun at you, and you had a gun, would you not try to shoot first to defend yourself? So what is wrong with a pre-emptive strike?

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: Relying on a coach for advice Celebrities trying to advertise to you

Definition Pathos 7 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 7 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 emotional 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

Model:

Effective argument or emotional manipulation?

Apply Ethos, Pathos, Logos to the following passages. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. – President Roosevelt “Pearl Harbour Address”

Martin Luther King Jr – I Have a Dream (Passage 1) When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.

I Have a Dream (Passage 1 cont) But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.

I Have a Dream (Passage 1 cont) We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only."

Acme (Passage 2) Acme Gizmotronics, the company that you've trusted for over 100 years, has recently entered the World Wide Web! Now you can purchase our fine products through the internet. Our quality gizmos, widgets, and thingamabobs can be shipped to you within minutes. All come with the famous lifetime guarantee that makes Acme the company that the world depends on for it's gizmo needs.

Acme (Passage 2 cont) By combining cesium and dihydro-oxide in laboratory conditions, and capturing the released energy, ACME has promised to lead the way into the future. Our energy source is clean, safe, and powerful. No pollutants are released into the atmosphere. The world will soon have an excellent source of clean energy.

Acme (Passage 3) A baby turtle breaks free from the leathery shell of its egg, catching its first glimpse of its first sunrise. It pauses a moment to rest, unaware of the danger that lies so close to it. As the tide comes in, approaching the nest, it also approaches a small pile of metal - cesium. The water draws closer and closer, the turtle unsuspecting of the danger. Finally, the water touches the cesium. The nest is torn to bits in the resulting explosion, destroying even more of an endangered species. Why does this happen? One name: Acme.

Activity 1: Quickwrite 8 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?