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Kami Export - Akimenko Elijah - ethos-pathos-logos-definitions-and-worksheet (1)

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Academic year: 2022/2023
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ARISTOTLE was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 4

th

century BCE. He was an influential
thinker and wrote on many subjects – from logic and ethics, to biology and metaphysics.
One area, in which Aristotle was particularly interested, was rhetoric. That is, the art of
persuasive speaking or writing. He even wrote a whole book entitled ‘On Rhetoric’ in which
he explains his theories of persuasive language and speech. Most significantly, in this work
he expounds on the concepts of ethos, logos and pathos, as tools for persuasive
language. A lot can be learned about the art of persuasion from these three concepts, and
once understood, they can be easily applied to our own persuasive speaking and writing.

introduction to ethos, pathos & logos

ethos

####### Ethos is a Greek word meaning ‘character’. I n terms of persuasive language, it is

####### an appeal to authority and credibility. Ethos is a means of convincing an

####### audience of the reliable character or credibility of the speaker/writer, or the

####### credibility of the argument.

####### It is an important tool of persuasion because if you can get your audience

####### to see you (or your argument) as credible and trustworthy, it will be much easier

####### to persuade them.

pathos

####### Pathos is a Greek word meaning ‘suffering’ or ‘experience’, and it is used in

####### persuasive speech as an appeal to the emotions of the audience. Pathos is the

####### way of creating a persuasive argument by evoking an emotional response in the

####### audience/reader.

####### You can use pathos when trying to persuade, by appealing to an

####### audience’s hopes and dreams, playing on their fears or worries, or appealing to

####### their particular beliefs or ideals.

logos

####### Logos is a Greek word meaning ‘a word’ or ‘reason’. In rhetoric, it is an appeal to

####### logic and reason. It is used to persuade an audience by logical thought, fact

####### and rationality.

####### Logos can be a useful tool of persuasion because if you can ‘prove’ an

####### argument through logical and sound reasoning, your audience is more likely to

####### be persuaded.

If you can include a combination of these three elements in your persuasive speaking and writing, you will appeal to your audience’s emotions, sense of reasoning and belief in you, and therefore your writing will be more convincing. Try to subtly weave ethos, pathos and logos into your persuasive writing and speaking.

How can you incorporate ethos?

  • You can openly remind your audience who you are and why you are an authority on the subject. ( ‘As the leading researcher, I agree...’ ).

  • You can establish authority more subtly through the use of jargon or specialized terms (‘ My quantitative research in linguistic anthropology has shown...’ ).

  • You can establish credibility by just using correct grammar and language, using solid reasoning and good arguments and therefore sounding credible and trustworthy.

####### Ethos is an

####### appeal to

####### ethics; it is a

####### means of

####### convincing

####### the audience

####### of the

####### character or

####### credibility of

####### the

####### persuader.

Why use ethos?

EXAMPLES:

» I have been married for 58 years and I can tell you that he will not be a good husband to you.

» Having written ten successful novels myself, I can tell you that this book is worth buying.

» My friend, who has a PhD in nutritional science, says that we should eat fewer carbohydrates.

####### If your audience believe you to be a qualified, authoritative figure, or an expert

####### in a subject, they are more likely to be persuaded by your argument.

TASK ONE: For each of the following, identify whether or not ETHOS is used, and explain your reasoning.

Ethos? Explain

“You should definitely get help with your debt, & I say that as somebody with over 30 years experience of debt counseling.”

Yes

The speaker is has referred to their extensive experience in this area, in order to give credit to their opinion. Somebody with over 30 years experience would surely know what he or she is talking about.

1

“As your father, I love you and only want the best for you. Therefore when I ask you not to go, please listen to me.”

2

“We really should try that recipe. Someone told me that it was good.”

3

“The research – conducted by professors at Harvard University – suggests that you should learn a second language.

4

“Dentists all over the world are telling their patients the same things. You must floss regularly.”

5

“I read somewhere that bicarbonate of soda is really useful for cleaning. You should try it.”

TASK TWO: For each of the following scenarios, write your own persuasive sentences using ethos:
1. You are trying to persuade your mother to let you get a tattoo.

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

2. You are attempting to convince an audience that animal testing is morally wrong.

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

3. You are trying to persuade your teacher not to give you homework.

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

How can you incorporate log os?

  • You can use research and statistics to back- up your arguments. ( ‘87% of students benefit from textbooks, so...’)

  • You can use logical processes to explain your point – ‘if this... then that...’ (‘ If you don’t want gum disease, then you should brush regularly.’ )

  • You must give convincing, solid evidence and reasons to support your claims. (‘ I need a car: it would make me more independent; save me money; improve my life.)

####### Logos is an

####### appeal to

####### logic; it is a

####### means of

####### convincing

####### the audience

####### through

####### rational

####### thought and

####### reason.

Why use logos?

EXAMPLES:

» I‘ve not eaten meat for 8 years, and I’m fit and healthy; you can’t argue that vegetarianism is always unhealthy.

» We have conducted the experiment 57 times and we get the same results every single time.

» That is not my wallet. My wallet has a tear in it. This wallet has no tear in it. Therefore, it cannot be mine.

####### If you can present a logical, rational argument to your audience, which engages

####### their intellect and sense of reason, they are more likely to be persuaded.

TASK ONE: For each of the following, explain whether or not you think that logos is being used effectively.
TASK TWO: For each of the following scenarios, write your own persuasive sentences using logos:
1. You are trying to persuade your brother to stop eating chocolate.

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

2. You are attempting to convince your class that they shouldn’t drink and drive.

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

3. You are trying to persuade an audience that they should exercise more often.

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

####### _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain

“I need new jeans. Everyone in my

class has new jeans.”

✓

This isn’t an effective use of logos as the reasoning is not logical and convincing. Firstly, it’s highly unlikely that everyone has new jeans (hyperbole). Secondly, just because other people have new jeans, it doesn’t logically follow that the speaker needs them.

1

“All men and women will die. You are a man. Therefore, you will die one day.”

2

“Everyone has children. Therefore, everyone needs to think about the schooling of his or her children.”

3

“You don’t need to jump in front of a train to know it’s a bad idea; so why do you need to try drugs to know if they’re damaging?”

4

“Cigarette smoke contains over 4, chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. So why start smoking?”

5

“Every morning the rooster crows, then the sun rises. Therefore the rooster causes the sun to rise.”

3 out of 4 people surveyed said that they prefer our brand to any other. If you care

about your teeth, make the wise choice and buy ShinyWhite before it’s too late.

Pathos and Logos

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Kami Export - Akimenko Elijah - ethos-pathos-logos-definitions-and-worksheet (1)

Course: green finance (GF01)

University: Gomal University

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© Stacey Lloyd 2014
!
Persuasive Language
ARISTOTLE was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 4th century BCE. He was an influential
thinker and wrote on many subjects – from logic and ethics, to biology and metaphysics.
One area, in which Aristotle was particularly interested, was rhetoric. That is, the art of
persuasive speaking or writing. He even wrote a whole book entitled ‘On Rhetoric’ in which
he explains his theories of persuasive language and speech. Most significantly, in this work
he expounds on the concepts of ethos, logos and pathos, as tools for persuasive
language. A lot can be learned about the art of persuasion from these three concepts, and
once understood, they can be easily applied to our own persuasive speaking and writing.
introduction to ethos, pathos & logos
ethos
Ethos is a Greek word meaning ‘character’. In terms of persuasive language, it is
an appeal to authority and credibility. Ethos is a means of convincing an
audience of the reliable character or credibility of the speaker/writer, or the
credibility of the argument.
It is an important tool of persuasion because if you can get your audience
to see you (or your argument) as credible and trustworthy, it will be much easier
to persuade them.
pathos
Pathos is a Greek word meaning ‘suffering’ or ‘experience’, and it is used in
persuasive speech as an appeal to the emotions of the audience. Pathos is the
way of creating a persuasive argument by evoking an emotional response in the
audience/reader.
You can use pathos when trying to persuade, by appealing to an
audience’s hopes and dreams, playing on their fears or worries, or appealing to
their particular beliefs or ideals.
logos
If you can include a combination of these three elements in your persuasive speaking and writing, you
will appeal to your audience’s emotions, sense of reasoning and belief in you, and therefore your
writing will be more convincing. Try to subtly weave ethos, pathos and logos into your persuasive
writing and speaking.

Students also viewed

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