Literary Appeals
Ethos: (Credibility) refers to the trustworthiness or credibility of the writer or speaker. Ethos is often conveyed through tone and style of the message and through the way the writer or speaker refers to differing views.
Pathos: (Emotional) means persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions. Language choice affects the audience's emotional response, and emotional appeal can effectively be used to enhance an argument.
Logos: (Logical) The logic of an argument’s reasons, and the effectiveness of its supporting evidence. The impact of logos on an audience is sometimes called the argument's logical appeal.
In a nutshell:
Ethos: the source's credibility, the speaker's/author's authority
Logos: the logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction); can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument.
Pathos: the emotional or motivational appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details.
Ethos: (Credibility) refers to the trustworthiness or credibility of the writer or speaker. Ethos is often conveyed through tone and style of the message and through the way the writer or speaker refers to differing views.
Pathos: (Emotional) means persuading by appealing to the reader's emotions. Language choice affects the audience's emotional response, and emotional appeal can effectively be used to enhance an argument.
Logos: (Logical) The logic of an argument’s reasons, and the effectiveness of its supporting evidence. The impact of logos on an audience is sometimes called the argument's logical appeal.
In a nutshell:
Ethos: the source's credibility, the speaker's/author's authority
Logos: the logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction); can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument.
Pathos: the emotional or motivational appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details.
Lesson One
1. Watch/Think: Watch the following video and think about the speaker's appeal to emotions, logic, and his credibility. How does his presentation of the speech hurt or help his message? Would you vote for this person? Why or why not?
1. Watch/Think: Watch the following video and think about the speaker's appeal to emotions, logic, and his credibility. How does his presentation of the speech hurt or help his message? Would you vote for this person? Why or why not?
2. Talk about it:
What is the speaker conveying through his tone of voice? How does this affect the ethos of his speech? The pathos?
Which appeal does the speaker's delivery hurt the most? What is the most important characteristic to appeal to in politics?
3. Try it:
What are some techniques the speaker could take to improve his message delivery? Write a short introduction for this speaker to improve his ethos with the audience.
What is the speaker conveying through his tone of voice? How does this affect the ethos of his speech? The pathos?
Which appeal does the speaker's delivery hurt the most? What is the most important characteristic to appeal to in politics?
3. Try it:
What are some techniques the speaker could take to improve his message delivery? Write a short introduction for this speaker to improve his ethos with the audience.
Lesson Two
1. Listen/Think: Listen to the speech by Ronald Reagan as he addresses the crash of the Challenger Space Shuttle.
As you listen, make a list of words, phrases or other contributing factors that appeal to the audience's emotions.
1. Listen/Think: Listen to the speech by Ronald Reagan as he addresses the crash of the Challenger Space Shuttle.
As you listen, make a list of words, phrases or other contributing factors that appeal to the audience's emotions.
2. Talk about it:
What range of emotions does Ronald Reagan address?
How does he appeal to positive emotions in his speech despite the tragic circumstances?
How does this affect his ethos?
3. Try it:
Compare George W. Bush's speech addressing the space shuttle "Columbia" tragedy.
"In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage, and daring, and idealism, we will miss them all the more.
All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country. The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand.
Our journey into space will go on."
How does the speaker appeal to emotion in this speech?
What contradicting emotions exist in this speech? Identify the emotional shifts and juxtapositions in this portion of the speech. How does this affect the speaker's ethos?
What range of emotions does Ronald Reagan address?
How does he appeal to positive emotions in his speech despite the tragic circumstances?
How does this affect his ethos?
3. Try it:
Compare George W. Bush's speech addressing the space shuttle "Columbia" tragedy.
"In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage, and daring, and idealism, we will miss them all the more.
All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You're not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country. The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand.
Our journey into space will go on."
How does the speaker appeal to emotion in this speech?
What contradicting emotions exist in this speech? Identify the emotional shifts and juxtapositions in this portion of the speech. How does this affect the speaker's ethos?