The Politics of Persuasion. Logos, Pathos and Ethos in Media and Literature

Transcription

1 The Politics of Persuasion Logos, Pathos and Ethos in Media and Literature

2 Looking for Persuasive Strategies Everyone is trying to convince you of something Commercials Advertisements How you get your parents to give you something or allow you to do something What techniques do people use to persuade an audience? Talk to your neighbor and fill in the following chart.

3 Strategy Used to Convince Others Result Persuasive Term (to be filled out later)

4 What is Rhetoric? Rhetoricis the way we use words in ways to achieve a desired. Rhetorical strategiesare different methods of persuading an. They can be divided into three major categories: logos,, and ethos.

5 Logos (L is for Logic) Logos = Logic Logosmeans appealing to the audience through the use of or. The author attempts to persuade the audience by appealing to their. Ex. If we do not reduce our green house gas emissions by 35% the polar ice caps will melt.

6 Logos (L is for Logic) Logos = Logic Logosmeans appealing to the audience through the use of logic or reason. The author attempts to persuade the audience by appealing to their brains. Ex. If we do not reduce our green house gas emissions by 35% the polar ice caps will melt.

7 Method Definition Example Allusion Analogy Comparison Contrast Facts & Figures Mentioning someone/something from history, or religion; usually the reference is to something with which most audiences would be familiar. A comparison that show similarities between otherwise facts or ideas (often an exaggeration). Illustrating the or differences between two things. Statements that can be proven ; some facts are in the form of statistics, or numerical information. Michael Jackson was as significant to the development of music as Elvis Presley or The Beatles. The effects of the polar ice caps melting would be more catastrophic than having another world war. There are significantly more gun-related deaths in the US, where the right to bear arms is protected, than in England, where guns are strictly outlawed. Of the garbage produced each year in the U.S., 42% is paper.

8 Pathos (P is for Pathetic) Pathos = Pathetic (sad) Pathos means appealing to the audience s. The author uses these strategies to get to the audience s. Ex. As you sit there chowing down on your cheeseburger and fries, children in Africa die every day from starvation. What will you do about it?

9 Pathos (P is for Pathetic) Pathos = Pathetic (sad) Pathos means appealing to the audience s emotions. The author uses these strategies to get to the audience s hearts. Ex. As you sit there chowing down on your cheeseburger and fries, children in Africa die every day from starvation. What will you do about it?

10 Anecdote Method Definition Example Loaded Words A short used as an example to illustrate a point Words that have extremely positive or negative. The people from the town of Maplewood began recycling and were able to lower their taxes and become happier citizens. You would have to be a social delinquent not to care about the environment. Personal Experience Repetition Rhetorical Question An example from that illustrates your main point Repeating a phrase or sentence for (The idea is that your audience will get the phrase stuck in their heads!) A question asked for impact, not because an is expected. When I first began recycling in my home, I noticed that nearly half of my garbage could actually be recycled. We must change the way we act. We must change the way we think. We must change the way we live. How can we stand by and do nothing as our environment collapses?

11 What is Connotation? Connotation refers to the positive and negative feelings that we have/associate with words. Ex. Young adult positive, formal connotation teenager neutral connotation punk negative, casual connotation

12 Ethos (E is for Ethical) Ethos = Ethical (trust) Ethosmeans appealing to the audience s sense of. Part of this involves the author convincing the audience that he/she is worthy of and is an authority on the topic. The audience needs to believe the author knows! Ex: Just like Martin Luther King Jr. once had a dream, I too have a dream for this country.

13 Ethos (E is for Ethical) Ethos = Ethical (trust) Ethosmeans appealing to the audience s sense of right and wrong. Part of this involves the author convincing the audience that he/she is worthy of trust and is an authority on the topic. The audience needs to believe the author knows what she s talking about! Ex: Just like Martin Luther King Jr. once had a dream, I too have a dream for this country.

14 Method Definition Example Call to Action Expert Opinions Quotations Rebutting a Counterargument A statement made inviting the audience to ; this change can be in mind or can involve physical action Statements made by a recognized on a subject. Using someone else s as evidence an argument made by someone with the opposite point of view So let each of us today make a personal vow to start recycling. According to the Platt Institute for Local Self-Reliance, recycling actually costs less than traditional trash collection and disposal. Mahatma Gandhi once said, You must be the change you wish to see in the word. While some argue that recycling is an added burden in our already busy lives, recycling should really be seen as a way of ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same quality of life that we do today.

15 Now It s Your Turn Look at the following pictures. In a 3 column chart write down the following. What you see/feel What persuasive technique is being used Is it effective?

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20 What Worked? Underneath your chart answer the following question. Be sure to use the terminology in your notes as well as evidence from your own life and from the class discussion. Which of these posters was the most eyecatching? Which was the most convincing? Why?

21 Next Steps With a Partner Now, take a look at Creon sspeech to his city after taking the throne and passing his decree that Polyneicesshould be left to rot (pg 759). Analyze his speech in order to identify what techniques he is using to get his main message across. Fill in the same chart you did for the ads for Creon sspeech using specific details/quotes from the text. Complete the chart in your notebook.

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