A Lesson on Rhetorical Devices: Ethos, Pathos, Logos. How do argument and persuasion play a role in your academic life? In your personal life?

Transcription

1 A Lesson on Rhetorical Devices: Ethos, Pathos, Logos How do argument and persuasion play a role in your academic life? In your personal life?

2 What is Rhetoric? Rhetoric (n) - the art of persuasive speech and writing According to Aristotle, rhetoric is "the ability, in each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion." He described three main forms of rhetoric: Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. In order to be a more effective writer, you must understand these three terms. You will better understand their meanings which will make your writing more persuasive.

3 Three Forms of Rhetoric Ethos Logos Pathos

4 Ethos (Credibility) Ethos: the source's credibility, the speaker's/author's authority We tend to believe people whom we respect. One of the central problems of argumentation is to project an impression to the reader that you are someone worth listening to, in other words making yourself as author into an authority on the subject of the paper, as well as someone who is likable and worthy of respect.

5 Ethos Example: Product: George Foreman and his Grilling Machine Repertoire: Boxing Champ and a Preacher Why is George Foreman credible?

6 Logos (Logical) Logos: the logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction); can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument. Persuading by the use of reasoning. An effective and persuasive reason that supports your ideas.

7 Logos Example: Idea: Students should be allowed to use cell phones during school hours. If.then Statistics, data Universal truths List three supporting facts and/or statistics that will support the aforementioned idea.

8 Logos Example continued Few of our children breath fresh air in their schools, which are being sprayed, inside and out, with millions of pounds of deadly, nervous system destroying pesticides. What are the details provided in this claim?

9 Pathos (Emotional) Pathos: persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions. Emotional appeals, are used to persuade. Language choice affects the audience's emotional response, and emotional appeal can effectively be used to enhance an argument. Fear, anger, pity are influential emotions

10 How does this advertisement appeal to emotion? Why? Pathos Example:

11 CRASH (2004 Paul Haggis Identify rhetorical strategies in each clip (note: the characters are using rhetoric to persuade each other, and the film is using it to persuade the viewer)

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13 Questions a. Rhetorical question: thoughtful questions that aren t meant to be answered. i. Can we really expect the school to keep paying from its limited resources? b. Hypophora: asking a question and answering it. i. But what was the result of this move on the steel industry? The annual reports for that year clearly indicate....

14 Description and Imagery a. Imagine being cast out into the cold street, lonely and frightened. Parallel structures a. To show kindness is praiseworthy; to show hatred is evil.

15 The rule of three a. I ask you, is this fair, is it right, is it just? Anaphora: the intentional repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a line for emphasis. a. Will he read the book? Will he learn what it has to teach him? Will he live according to what he has learned? b. Not time, not money, not laws, but willing diligence will get this done. Hyperbole (using exaggeration for effect) a. While we await your decision, the whole school holds its breath.

16 Anecdote a. An anecdote is a short and interesting story taken from your past experience - or that of someone you know or have heard about. Audiences love anecdotes. Euphemisms and connotation a. overweight vs. fat b. issue vs. problem Downplaying and understating a. Using key words to make important things seem unimportant i. Mere, merely, so-called, however, although, despite Expressing things in such a way as to understate it s importance i. The earthquake interrupted business somewhat in the downtown area.

17 Distinctio a. The intentional reference or definition of a word in order to remove confusion, misunderstanding or ambiguity i. By impossible I mean currently beyond our technological capabilities Apophasis a. The raising of an issue by claiming not to mention it i. We won t even talk about his criminal record

18 Which rhetorical strategy is most persuasive? PATHOS? LOGOS?