Argument:%20Ethos,%20Pathos,%20Logos

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Argument Ethos, Pathos, Logos

• Mr. Eagan
• English 110

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All arguments exist in a rhetorical situation
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What is a Rhetorical Situation?

• Rhetoric Using language effectively to persuade,
  inform, educate, or entertain
• Rhetorical Situation The circumstances in which
  you communicate.

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Factors which can affect an authors writing

• Age
• Experiences
• Gender
• Location
• Political Beliefs
• Parents And Peers
• Education

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Audience To Whom are you Writing?

• Many of the same factors which affect the writer
  also affect the audience
• Age
• Social class
• Education
• Past experience
• Culture/subculture
• Expectations

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Context

• The situation which generates the need for
  writing
• Affected by the
• Time period or timing
• Location
• Current events
• Cultural significance

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Purpose Your Reason For Writing
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What this means

• You need to be aware that a rhetorical situation
  exists every time you write and every time you
  read.
• You need to adapt your writing as well as your
  analysis and use of sources depending on your
  purpose and your audience.

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Introduction to Argument

• All arguments must contain two parts
• Claim
• Support
• Also called conclusions and premises
• (QA Chapter 5, pg. 84)

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Introduction to Argument

• CLAIM States the issue and takes a position on
  a debatable topic (usually takes the form of a
  THESIS STATEMENT in a written argument)
• SUPPORT Facts, evidence, reasons, examples put
  together w/ logical reasoning and critical
  thinking

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Introduction to Argument

• Develop and refine your thesis/argument.
• Do this by asking yourself questions about your
  chosen topic. (?)
• Using precise language and establishing a clear
  position will help both you and your readers.
  (?)
• STOP! QA Ex. 5-1, pg. 86

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Topics

• Commercials for weight loss pills on television
• Taxing new cars according to their mileage
• Athletes use of steroids and performance-enhancin
  g drugs
• Requiring students to undertake volunteer or
  community service

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Introduction to Argument

• Persuasive Appeals
• Ethos - Establishes the writer/speaker as a
  credible/(ethical or moral) person.
• Pathos - Appeals to an audiences values and
  beliefs through emotion/empathy.
• Logos - The use of sound reasoning or logic.

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Qualities of Ethos

• Demonstrating knowledge
• Establishing common ground
• Demonstrating fairness
• Ethical fallacies ad hominem, guilt by
  association

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Examples

• Ethos - I am a husband, a father, and a
  taxpayer. I have served on the school board for
  20 years. I deserve your vote for city council.
  
• Such an appeal attempts to persuade by calling
  attention to the writers/speakers character. It
  says in effect Im a great person so you should
  believe what Im telling you. Ethos does not
  concern the veracity of the argument, only its
  appeal. (I am a credible speaker.) (?)

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Qualities of Pathos

• Using description and concrete language
• Using figurative language (metaphors, similes,
  analogies)
• Shaping appeal to audience
• Emotional fallacies bandwagon appeal, flattery,
  in-crowd appeal, veiled threats, loaded language,
  false analogies

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Examples

• Pathos - Government-run healthcare will have
  death squads to decide which citizens will live
  and which will die.
• Such an appeal attempts to persuade by stirring
  the emotions of the audience and attempts to
  create any number of emotions like fear, sadness,
  contentment, joy, and pride. Pathos does not
  concern the veracity of the argument, only its
  appeal. (QA pg. 88) (?)

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Qualities of Logos

• Providing examples and precedents
• Citing authority and testimony
• Establishing causes and effects
• Using inductive and deductive reasoning
• Logical fallacies begging the question, post
  hoc, non sequiter, false dichotomy, hasty
  generalization, oversimplification

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Examples

• Logos - All humans are mortal. You are a human.
  Therefore, you are mortal.
• This is called a syllogism. Logical arguments
  take this form through the use of rhetorical
  devices like process analysis, comparison/contrast
  , cause/effect, etc. (?)

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Examples

• Logos - Some politicians are corrupt.
  Therefore, Senator Jones may be corrupt.
• This is called an enthymeme. It is like a
  syllogism but the conclusion is based on
  inference rather than evidence. The syllogism
  leads to a necessary conclusion from universally
  true premises, and the enthymeme leads to a
  tentative conclusion from probable premises.

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When Reading forEthos

• Note how the author establishes a persona
• Note how the author establishes credibility
• Note any revelation of the authors credentials
  or personal history.

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When Reading forPathos

• Note the primary audience for the text
• Note the emotional appeals the author makes
• Note the authors expectations of the audience.

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When Reading forLogos

• Note the claims the author makes.
• Note the data the author provides in support of
  the claims.
• Note the conclusion the author draws

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When using Ethos, ask yourself

• Have I established a credible persona?
• Have I established my credibility?
• Have I expressed my knowledge and expertise of
  the topic?

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When using Pathos, ask yourself

• Have I considered the primary audience and the
  type of background they have?
• Does my audience agree with me or will I have to
  persuade them of the validity of my argument?
• How will I make my paper appeal to my audience?

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When using Logos, ask yourself

• Have I established the purpose for my text?
• Have I established a clear, reasonable, and
  logical progression of my ideas?
• Have I addressed opposing arguments or
  perspectives?

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Toulmin Logic

• CLAIM a variation of a thesis statement. If
  needed, the claim is qualified or limited
• SUPPORT reasons or evidence, moving from broad
  reasons to specific data and details, support the
  claim
• WARRANTS The writers underlying assumptions,
  which are often implied rather than stated.
  Warrants may also need support.

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Toulmin Model

• Read section 5f in your QA (pg. 89)
• STOP! QA Ex. 5-2, pg. 89-90

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Applying what youve learned

• QA Exercise 5-3, pg. 91
• QA Exercise 5-4, pg. 93
• QA Exercise 5-5, pg. 94