The first sounds like a rather opinionated person, the second seems like the voice of a police spokesperson, and the last one may come across as empathetic and understanding. Post hoc ergo propter hoc: Latin phrase meaning “after this, therefore because of this”; confuses correlation with causation by concluding that an event preceding a second event must be the cause of that second event. While ethos can create a powerful appeal, it isn't the only appeal available to rhetors. When a persuasive argument has ethos (credibility), pathos (emotional appeal/hook), and logos (appeal to logic, credible research, thesis and supporting paragraphs), then you have a valid persuasive argument with no fallacies (illogical arguments). In the sentence “Cutting access to food stamps would encourage personal responsibility,” the god term is “personal responsibility.” It might seem as if it would be hard to argue against “personal responsibility” or related god terms such as “independence” and “self-reliance.” However, it would require a definition of “personal responsibility,” combined with evidence from studies of people’s behavior in the face of food stamp or other benefit reductions, to argue that cutting access to food stamps would lead to the intended results. They feel as if the police is spying on them, as if their constitutional right to privacy has been violated. If you use these when making your own arguments, be aware that they may undermine or destroy your credibility. These three appeals are known as the rhetorical triangle because all three sides work together to make a text effective or not. A rhetorical analysis requires students to set aside their own opinions on a subject and instead analyze how well an argument has been constructed. Ethos, pathos, and logos are three elements of persuasion identified by Aristotle. So I will help clear some things, do some explaining, and hopefully you will be able to use these tools down the road. Your book might have a bio on the dustjacket. Analyze the leadership and oratory styles of Martin Luther King, Jr. through the lens of ethos, logos, and pathos, and compare his styles to your own. Accessing this subject requires a login. Aristotle's ethos-pathos-logos. By appealing to these three elements, a speaker or writer will increase her chances of persuading an audience. Forum Objective: Analyze ethos, logos and pathos in a persuasive article from your field. However, on her website (, “Of course that doctor advocates vaccination—he probably owns stock in a pharmaceutical company.”, “My opponent is a card-carrying member of the ACLU.”, “The prosecution is going to bring up a series or so-called experts who are getting a lot of money to testify here today.”. Logos (λογος) is the use of logical argument and empirical evidence to support your point of view. Ethos, Logos, Pathos. An author who essentially replaces logos and ethos with pathos alone should be given low marks. 2). Others have become infamous for claiming academic degrees that they didn’t earn as in the case of Marilee Jones. Use them in any combination that fits the rhetorical situation. Has the writer or speaker cited her sources or in some way made it possible for the audience to access further information on the issue? The knowledge gained over the course of the quarter weren't only those three types of appeals. You should become familiar with pathos, logos, and ethos for two reasons: First, you need to develop your own skills at crafting a good argument so that others will take you seriously. Remember that the AP exam is a type of task which has strict time limits. Option 1 – Analysis: You will pick only one commercial to analyze. Aristotle introduces the concept of three main types to be used in oratory studies, which are ethos, logos and pathos. Forum Objective: Analyze ethos, logos and pathos in a persuasive article from your field. There are many indicators of Ethos or the lack there of . Cats should not be allowed to roam the neighbourhood. Remember that as you analyze other writing or are building your own argument, each appeal in the rhetorical triangle—logos, ethos, and pathos—carries some responsibility for the success—or failure—of the argument. can be a legitimate part of an argument. Ethos is the personal appeal, charisma, or credibility of the speaker or writer. Others may be found in the appendix. Resumptive and Summative Modifiers: Quiz 1. As a reader and a listener, it is fundamental that you be able to recognize how writers and speakers depend upon. In such a context, engaging the emotions, values, or beliefs of the audience is a legitimate tool whose effective use should lead you to give the author high marks. For example, in an argument about the First Amendment, does the author write as if he takes it for granted that his audience is religious? Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Lunsford, Andrea A. Analyzing Ethos, Pathos and Logos in a Persuasive Article. Ethos is the credibility of the author. Knowing how to present ethos, pathos and logos in your persuasive essay or speech is one of the keys to making an effective argument. 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