Persuasion + Argument = Rhetorical Triangle
Feb 23, 2016
Persuasion + Argument = Rhetorical Triangle
Aristotle
‘sup
The MessArgument
claim
supportcounterargument
Appeal to Association
bandwagontransfer Plain folks
testimonialAppeal to emotions
fear
vanity humor
Ethical appeal
ethics
Persuasion
The Solution
Argument
claim
supportcounterargument
Association
bandwagontransferPlain folks
testimonial
Emotional appeal
fear
vanity humor
Ethical appeal
ethics
Persuasion
The Solution
The Rhetorical TriangleEthos
Logos Pathos
Logos: An appeal to Logic
Ethos
Logos Pathos
• Logos = Logic
• Includes:– Facts– Statistics– Testimony
• Logos’ strength lies in that it is difficult to corrupt.
• Much of your “arguing” will be accomplished through appeals to logos.
A Strong Appeal to Logos
Ethos
Logos Pathos
• Is your claim clear?
• Is it consistent throughout the paper/speech?
• Is there logical support for your claim?
• Is the support you provide effective in proving your claim?
Logos In Action• Many people choose not to give blood believing that there is no real
need, but the truth is 1 in every 5 people will need a blood transfusion.
• 9 out of 10 doctors recommend using our product.
• Switching to fluorescent light can reduce energy costs by up to 40%.
• According to Dr. McGaffin, drinking milk leads to a healthier life.
• 50% of schools report a 20% drop in test grades after implementing school uniforms.
Pathos: An appeal to “Emotion”• Makes the argument matter to the
audience.
• Includes emotional• Stories• Language and wording• Visuals• Transfer• Bandwagon• Pity• Fear• Vanity• Humor • Pathos’ strength lies in the fact that
the audience just feels as though they need take a certain action or adopt a certain opinion.
PathosLogos
Ethos
A good appeal to Pathos• Might better be called an appeal to
the audience’s sympathies and imagination.
• In a good appeal to pathos, the audience doesn’t simply respond emotionally, they identify with the writers point of view.
• It turns the abstractions of logic into something real and present.
• Emotion has the power to sway the mind
PathosLogos
Ethos
Pathos in Action• He killed her. vs. He took his hands and wrapped them around her
innocent neck, taking with him not only her last exquisite breath of life, but the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of a girl who died far too young at the hands of a killer who has been allowed to live for far too long.
• Detailing a horrific accident in how a blood transfusion saved your life.
• Imagine if your dog died from chocking on a water bottle.
• Mood music
Logos v. Pathos
In an appeal to logos, the audience’s decision to agree with the Speaker/author is the logical result of the argument.
It makes sense to agree with the speaker/author.
In an appeal to pathos, the audience’s decision to agree with the speaker/author is the result of an emotional impulse.
You feel compelled to agree because you feel what the speaker/writer is feeling.
Ethos: An appeal to character
Ethos
Logos Pathos
• Ethos has to do with the way the audience perceives the speaker. Is the speaker worth listening to?
• Is the speaker…– Respectable/trustworthy– Articulate– Authoritative– Credible– “Plain folks”
• Ethos works well because if the audience trusts the speaker, they are more likely to listen to him or her.
A strong appeal to Ethos
Ethos
Logos Pathos
• People are more likely to be persuaded by someone who they think has…• Personal warmth• Consideration of others• A good mind• Strong learning
• Credibility• Initial v. derived
Initial Credibility!
Equilateral for a Reason
Ethos
Logos Pathos