1. How to navigate the world of argument & persuasion.
Ethos, Pathos, Logos...
How to navigate the world of argument & persuasion.
English 111
Feb. 17, 2014

2. Logos... An Appeal to logic
Convincing an audience that a viewpoint, idea, or claim is true by applying…
Logos is used in compositions in the following ways
logical organizational patterns, making a text clearer or helping to deliver a stronger conclusion or point (including transitions)
uses of language based on their meanings (definitions, metaphors, even puns!)
See also MHG p
Arguments: using evidence—such as logical reasoning, information from secondary sources, or testimony of personal experience—to deliver a logical conclusion or point or prove the truthfulness of one’s claims.

3. Logos... Appealing to Evidence
Logical Organizational Patterns
Logic of Transitions
Words, phrases, sentences, or whole paragraphs that suggest movement from one idea (or kind of idea) to another one. See MHG pp
Argument Arrangements
See, for instance, MHG chapters, where they discuss organization of essays.
MHG Chpt. 5, on Narrative, might be particularly helpful for your rhetorical analysis.

4. Logos... Appealing to Reason
Word Choice & Word Play
Defining
Metaphors & analogies
Denotation/Connotation
Examples:
“Undocumented Immigrant”
vs.
“Illegal Alien”
“Child w/ Down Syndrome”
“Down Syndrome Child”

5. Ethos... An Appeal to Character
See also MHG p. 450
Persuading an audience by demonstrating your personal character – trustworthiness, honesty, morality, likeability, fairness through choices about tone, language, and content.
Situated Character - Reputation, or what the audience may already think of the author according to his or her current status.
Invented Character - Persona, or the image an author creates of himself or herself, through the tone, language, content, etc.

6. Ethos... An Appeal to Character
Ethos is used in compositions in a number of ways, including…
Use of effective sources (cited and attributed)
Written demonstrations of the writer’s knowledge, good will, sense of humor, and other positive personality traits
Written demonstrations the writer’s personal experience regarding the subject.
Apt language choices that shows a writer knows how to communicate about the subject matter.
Others?

7. Pathos... An Appeal to Emotion
See also MHG pp. 450
Persuading an audience by stimulating interest, concern, or specific emotions toward your ideas through tone, language, or content. You might…
cause the audience to feel pity, disgust, anger, sympathy, enjoyment or some other emotion
carry them away by expressing the conviction or emotions you hold about the topic
lead them to feel that they are personally responsible for or affected by the topic, issue, or problem.
get them thinking about their personal interests, values, beliefs, or what they stand to gain or lose.

8. Pathos... An Appeal to Emotion
Pathos is used in compositions in a number of ways, including…
Storytelling
Written demonstrations that connect readers, their values, and their personal interests to the subject matter or writer’s viewpoint.
Written demonstrations that show readers the gains/benefits/harms/dangers associated with subject.
Apt language choices intended to affect the mood or tone of the composition as well as the mood of the audience toward the subject.
Others?