English 9 / Unit 7: Argument and Rhetoric
7.3 Ethos, Pathos and Logos
Notes
Aristotle described three rhetorical appeals, or ways to persuade.
| Appeal | Appeals to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ethos | credibility, character, trust | "As a nurse for 20 years, I have seen..." |
| Pathos | emotions | "Imagine a puppy shivering alone in the rain." |
| Logos | logic, facts, reasoning | "Shelters took in 3,000 dogs last year, and 40 percent were never adopted." |
- Strong arguments often blend all three.
- Kairos is choosing the right moment or timing for an argument.
Practice
"As an Olympic swimmer, I can tell you that this training method works." This uses:
The speaker builds trust through expertise.
"Ninety percent of the town's wells tested above the safe limit for lead." This mainly uses:
A statistic appeals to logic.
"Picture your little sister crying because the park she loves has been bulldozed." This mainly uses:
It aims to stir the reader's feelings.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 7 test.