What Are “Rhetorical Appeals”? Rhetorical Appeals: Persuasive strategies used in arguments to support claims and respond to counterarguments Comes from Aristotle’s On Rhetoric (2000 years old) and is still used in all modern rhetorics. There are three main types of rhetorical appeals: logos, ethos, and pathos Effective arguments generally use a combination of all three appeals Martin Luther King, Jr. at the March on Washington (1963)

Logos Logos: Appeal to reason Greek for “word”—English “logic” Logos refers to the internal consistency of the message: – The clarity of the claim – The logic of the reasons – The reliability and effectiveness of the evidence The impact of logos on an audience is sometimes called the argument’s “logical appeal” Ask these questions: – Does your message make sense? Are you understandable? – Is your message based on facts, statistics, and evidence? – Is your argument structure transparent? – Will your call-to-action (if you have one) lead to the desired outcome that you promise? The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David (1787)

Ethos Ethos: Appeal to character Aristotle first defined as a speaker’s “trustworthiness” Ethos refers to the credibility of the writer Ways to build your ethos: – Use evidence from credible sources – Acknowledge and respect opposing views – Keep an open mind – Proofread! The impact of ethos on an audience is sometimes called the argument’s “ethical appeal”

Pathos Pathos: Appeal to emotion Greek for “suffering” or “experience” Pathos appeals to the audience’s needs, values, and emotional sensibilities An appeal to pathos causes an audience to identify with the writer’s point of view Often relies on narrative, which can turn abstractions of logic into something palpable and present

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