Rhetorical Appeals and How Writers Use Them

Definition: Rhetoric

Definition: the art of using language effectively and persuasively Rhetoric

Definition:Put definition in your own words: the art of using language effectively and persuasively Rhetoric

Definition:Put definition in your own words: the art of using language effectively and persuasively Example Sentence: Rhetoric

Definition:Putdefinition in your own words: the art and study of using language effectively and persuasively Example Sentence: The politician’s rhetoric was so effective that his audience agreed to only tax the poor. Rhetoric

Definition:Put definition in your own words: the art of using language effectively and persuasively Example Sentence:Your Sentence: The politician’s rhetoric was so effective that his audience agreed to only tax the poor. Rhetoric

Rhetorical Appeals Quick-Write: Think of time where you used rhetoric, or your words, to convince someone of something or to do something. - What exactly did you say? - Why was it effective?

Rhetorical Appeals Ok, so people can use their words, their rhetoric, to convince others. But there is a little more to it than that...

Definition: to try to make someone do or accept something as right by making statements that are directed to a specific person/persons Appeal

Definition:Put definition in your own words: to try to make someone do or accept something as right by making statements that are directed to a specific person/persons Appeal

Definition:Put definition in your own words: to try to make someone do or accept something as right by making statements that are directed to a specific person/persons Example:Your Example: I really wanted to go to the concert, so appealed to my parents by telling them I would do dishes for the next two months. Appeal

Rhetorical Appeals When trying to persuade an audience, a writer can try to convince, or appeal, to their readers in 3 very different ways: Ethos Pathos Logos

Rhetorical Appeals Ethos = Trust

Rhetorical Appeals Ethos: targets, or appeals to people’s trust when trying to persuade them. People need to be able to trust the speaker or writer in order to be persuaded.

Rhetorical Appeals Ethos: This means the speaker should be: an expert in what he/she is talking about should be trustworthy This makes the speaker/writer believable to the audience.

Bill Gates is an expert in computers, so he could use ethos to persuade people on this topic

Michael Jordan is an expert in basketball, so he could use ethos as a way to persuade players to improve their game.

Snooki is an expert in tanning, so she could use ethos as a way to persuade people that tanning is good.

Ms. Philson is NOT an expert in skydiving, so she should not try to use ethos to persuade someone of ANYTHING related to skydiving. Skydiving? Oh yes, you should do this, and this, and this... I’m pretty sure she’s never gone skydiving before...

Who do you think could use ethos more effectively to be hired to build your house? A person who has owned their own construction company for the past 20 years. A person who has been working for this construction company for one year

Who do you think could use ethos more effectively to convince people NOT to use drugs? A person who knows what drugs do the body only because they have studied people who use drugs. A person who, in the past, has been a drug addict and can tell people first hand, the negative side effects of drugs.

Rhetorical Appeals Pathos = Emotions

The writer can appeal to the reader’s… 1. Trust…the reader can be persuaded if he or she thinks the writer or speaker can be believed. 2. Emotions…the reader can be persuaded if the writer gets him/her sad, mad, or happy enough to do something about it.

The writer can appeal to the reader’s… 1. Trust…the reader can be persuaded if he or she thinks the writer or speaker can be believed. 2. Emotions…the reader can be persuaded if the writer gets him/her sad, mad, or happy enough to do something about it. 3. Logic…the reader might be convinced if the writer makes sense mathematically and logically.

The 3 Rhetorical Appeals are old and have Greek names.

They are…

The 3 Rhetorical Appeals are old and have Greek names. They are… 1. Ethos = Trust

The 3 Rhetorical Appeals are old and have Greek names. They are… 1. Ethos = Trust 2. Pathos = Emotion

The 3 Rhetorical Appeals are old and have Greek names. They are… 1. Ethos = Trust 2. Pathos = Emotion 3. Logos = Sense or Logic

Ethos The Ethos-appeal asks, “Do you trust me?”

An Ethos-based appeal only works when you trust the speaker

A writer uses an Ethos-based appeal when he or she…gains TRUST by

>relying on his/her reputation as a writer or speaker A writer uses an Ethos-based appeal when he or she…gains TRUST by

>relying on his/her reputation as a writer or speaker >trying to appear trustworthy and/or knowledgeable

A writer uses an Ethos-based appeal when he or she…gains TRUST by >relying on his/her reputation as a writer or speaker >trying to appear trustworthy and/or knowledgeable >associating herself with someone the audience knows and respects.

Pathos: the emotional appeal

Pathos: Stir up their EMOTIONS! >show or use emotionally charged imagery

Pathos: Stir up their EMOTIONS! >show or use emotionally charged imagery. >Use angry or excited language.

Pathos: Stir up their EMOTIONS! >show or use emotionally charged imagery. >Use angry or excited language. >Imply a sense of urgency so that the audience thinks it must act NOW!

Logos: the appeal to reason, or your audience’s intelligence

Logos

Writers use a logos-based appeal by…  Stating the facts, figures, and details that prove their position or thesis.

Writers use a logos-based appeal by…  Stating the facts, figures, and details that prove their position or thesis.  Relying on their audience’s sense of logic and consequences.

Writers use a logos-based appeal by…  Stating the facts, figures, and details that prove their position or thesis.  Relying on their reader’s sense of logic and understanding of consequences  Showing that the opposite position does not make sense.