Using Rhetoric Ethos, Logos, & Pathos

Who is Aristotle? Greek philosopher Student of Plato Wrote The Art of Rhetoric Introduced ethos, logos, and pathos

What is Rhetoric? Aristotle’s definition: The ability to discover all available means of persuasion in a given situation. Interpretation: The art of speaking or writing effectively.

Rhetorical Triangle Purpose: What the writer/speaker hopes to achieve (subject & purpose) or speaker Purpose: What the writer/speaker hopes to achieve

Ethos, Logos, Pathos Aristotle divided types of appeals into 3 categories: Ethos – credibility (ethical appeal) Logos – reasoning (logical appeal) Pathos – emotions (emotional appeal)

Ethos A writer’s/speaker’s appeal to character -- establishes credibility and trustworthiness

Examining Ethos My Dear Fellow Clergymen: While confined here in Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities "unwise and untimely."...Since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable in terms.     I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against "outsiders coming in."...I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here.  I am here because I have organizational ties here.     But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.  Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town.  Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Letter from Birmingham Jail"

Logos An appeal to reason by offering clear, rational, logical ideas

Examining Logos Sojourner Truth “Ain't I A Woman?” (delivered 1851 – Women’s Convention – Akron, Ohio) Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about? That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman? Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full? Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him. If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them. Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.

Pathos An appeal to emotion – achieved through vivid, concrete description, figurative language, and visual elements Note: Arguments based solely on pathos are often propagandistic.

Examining Pathos “America's older citizens have rightly been called the "greatest generation." It is morally unacceptable that the people that built this country -- our senior citizens -- should suffer hunger in a land of plenty, which they helped to create.” -from America’s Second Harvest program

Putting it all together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLrrBs8JBQo

Finding Ethos, Logos, & Pathos Wallace: Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace. Young soldier: William Wallace is 7 feet tall. Wallace: Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I AM William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight? Veteran soldier: Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live. Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live -- at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!!! Wallace and Soldiers: Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)

Finding Ethos, Logos, & Pathos Wallace: Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace. Young soldier: William Wallace is 7 feet tall. Wallace: Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I AM William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight? Veteran soldier: Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live. Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live -- at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!!! Wallace and Soldiers: Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)

Assignment Choose a speaker, subject/purpose, and audience. Write one paragraph that relies as exclusively as possible on ethos. Write a second paragraph that relies as exclusively as possible on logos. Write a third paragraph that relies as exclusively as possible on pathos. Your paragraphs will be shared with the class.