Mini-Assignment _ English NO PLAGERISM
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ethos_pathos_and_logos.pptxPersuasive Techniques Review: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
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A writer must use support in order to make his or her argument convincing. Support usually begins with facts and examples (hypothetical or real-life examples). Then, the writer will use various persuasive techniques to connect the facts and/or examples directly to the claim(s) he or she is making.
Insufficient support may cause the audience to doubt the writer, and ultimately work against the goal of the essay (to persuade).
For example, if I would like to make the argument that, “All drivers over the age of 70 should be required to pass yearly competency tests,” and my only support is a detailed example of an incident that occurred when my elderly neighbor drove through my living room and almost killed my sister, my audience would not be convinced of my original claim.
It is critical for the writer to step out of his or her role throughout this process and consider the essay from the audience’s point of view. That is the only way to determine the persuasiveness of the essay.
Arguments need support
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Appeals to ethos support an argument by focusing on the character of the arguer- We generally believe those whom we respect. You want to seem unbiased, honest, and forthright in your arguments.
Ethos: Who are you to be making such assertions?
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One great example of ethos comes from a prior student of mine. In her essay about parents’ responsibility to make healthy choices for their children in order to avoid obesity, the student establishes a strong and careful sense of ethos. Rather than having the preachy tone of a health expert, she portrays herself as a busy mom who understands the challenges of raising kids in today’s society. She even offers examples of how she has failed to make the healthiest choices in the past. Pointing out her own failures allows her reader to empathize with her and want to make good choices, rather than feeling like isolated failures who are being lectured to by someone who doesn’t “get it.” In other words, I am more likely to be convinced by someone who has shown herself to be a busy mom like me.
In order for a writer to establish a sense of ethos, he or she must spend time thinking about his or her intended audience.
Establishing a sense of ethos
Logos not only refers to the facts and statistics a writer uses to support his arguments, but also includes the clear reasons for the claims the writer uses to appeal to his audience’s sense of logic.
For example, If I would like to make the argument that, “Smoking should be banned in all public places,” I might use shocking statistics that reveal the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. Then, I would relate these statistics to the argument by discussing how smoking affects more than just the smoker.
Appeal to Logic (Logos)
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Pathos, or the use of emotional appeals, obviously target the reader’s emotions. This is a common persuasive technique used in advertising. The writer wants his or her audience to feel some sort of emotion to make them more likely to agree with his or her statements.
When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I dragged my husband to a baby expo where I was promised lots of advice and free samples. The presenter began the expo by telling us all horrible accounts of babies dying from being harmed by all sorts of baby products. Image the audience, full of hormonal, pregnant women. He wanted us to feel fear in order to put us in the perfect frame of mind for the next part of his presentation: his products. Then, he proceeded to introduce his expensive products which would save our babies’ lives. He then wondered, “If you don’t buy my product, how will you sleep at night knowing you didn’t spend the extra few hundred dollars on the safety of your child?” This is an example of a rhetorical question, but also an emotional appeal. He didn’t want to know how I would sleep; he just wanted to make me, and the other pregnant ladies, feel guilty for knowing the facts and choosing to buy the cheap Target stroller or high chair. The man was targeting these emotions to persuade us to buy his products.
Appeal to Emotion (Pathos)
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When a writer uses pathos, he or she is appealing to the audience in order to get them to feel an emotion that will encourage their acceptance of his or her claims.
Example: If I am writing an essay to support my claim that, “The death penalty should be enforced in all states,” I might offer a hypothetical example that describes a terrorist behind bars who still has contact with others outside of jail. I would use images of the destruction the man is still capable of carrying out while still in jail to make my reader feel fear and anxiety about the dangers of those in jail who still want to harm people. These emotions would make my readers more inclined to agree with my arguments. Again, hypothetical examples are effective means of targeting a reader’s emotions.
Appeal to Emotion (Pathos) continued:
