The Exalted Trinity Appeals to the Reader

Aristotle Aristotle was one of the first to discover that effective speakers use three kinds of appeals to make their arguments convincing. Aristotle was one of the first to discover that effective speakers use three kinds of appeals to make their arguments convincing. These appeals are used to convince the audience to agree with your argument or to convince them to do something. These appeals are used to convince the audience to agree with your argument or to convince them to do something.

Logos: The Mind Use of logical reasoning and appropriate evidence which includes statistics and other types of data, expert testimony and illustrative examples. Use of logical reasoning and appropriate evidence which includes statistics and other types of data, expert testimony and illustrative examples. This appeal is associated with the mind and the elements of thought in debate. This appeal is associated with the mind and the elements of thought in debate.

Ethos: The Soul Focus on the character. Focus on the character. Communicates to readers your credibility, intelligence, knowledge, fairness and even altruism and concern for others. Communicates to readers your credibility, intelligence, knowledge, fairness and even altruism and concern for others. Present yourself as knowledgeable about your subject matter. Present yourself as knowledgeable about your subject matter. Acknowledge other points of view and deal fairly with them. Acknowledge other points of view and deal fairly with them. Provide appropriate credible information in the form of facts, statistics or quotes from authorities in the field. Provide appropriate credible information in the form of facts, statistics or quotes from authorities in the field.

Pathos: the Heart An appeal to readers’ emotions. An appeal to readers’ emotions. Identify who is or will be affected positively or negatively with the course of action you propose. Help your reader to identify with them. Identify who is or will be affected positively or negatively with the course of action you propose. Help your reader to identify with them. Show how the course of action has affected people elsewhere. Show how the course of action has affected people elsewhere. Arouse indignation over a current situation by showing how it is at odds with a community’ values or concerns. Arouse indignation over a current situation by showing how it is at odds with a community’ values or concerns.

The Three Appeals: Most arguments combine the three appeals because different readers respond to different approaches. Most arguments combine the three appeals because different readers respond to different approaches.

The Three Appeals: The appeals may be connected to the communication process as well as to the heart, mind and soul. The appeals may be connected to the communication process as well as to the heart, mind and soul. The Writer (Ethos) The Writer (Ethos) The Reader (Pathos) The Reader (Pathos) The Message ( Logos) The Message ( Logos)