English 10 / Unit 7: Analyzing Informational Texts and Rhetoric
7.3 Rhetorical Appeals
Notes
Persuaders appeal to audiences in three main ways, plus timing.
- Ethos: credibility and character. "As a nurse for 20 years, I have seen..."
- Pathos: emotion. Vivid stories, images and charged words.
- Logos: logic and evidence. Statistics, facts, reasoning.
- Kairos: the right moment. Arguments gain force when they fit current events or urgent timing.
- Strong arguments usually combine appeals. Analyze how an appeal works on a specific audience.
Practice
"Studies of 4,000 students found that those who slept eight hours scored 15 percent higher on tests." This mainly appeals to:
It uses data and reasoning.
"Picture a child shivering in a cold apartment this winter, waiting for help that never comes." This mainly appeals to:
The vivid image is meant to stir sympathy.
A speaker opens with, "As a firefighter who has fought wildfires for fifteen years..." This builds:
Experience establishes the speaker's credibility.
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