Emotional Appeals

Rhetorical Appeals Review

Logos: the logical appeal

What it does:

• convinces readers that the writer’s logic in the argument is correct.

• In scholarly and scientific writing, it is the most important appeal.

• Persuasive writing without logical appeal is usually propaganda.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of logos or logic?

• Seven out of ten professional gamers say this is the best game they've ever played.

• I highly recommend this game because it was so much fun!

• Even though I've never played any video games before, I can tell you this one is terrible.

Pathos: the emotional appeal

What it does:

• engages the reader’s emotions.

• not related to how emotional the topic itself is

• created by the way the writer presents the information.

• Persuasive writing without emotional appeal is usually dull and rarely regarded well.

• Connotative language

• Parallelism (all forms)

• Repetition 

• Rhetorical questions

Typical Techniques

• Imagery

• Figurative language

• Allusion

• Humor

Pathos: the emotional appeal

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of pathos or emotion?

• Fifty percent of all gamers have played this game at least once.

• Bill Gates himself has tested the game numerous times and says it's the most challenging game on the market.

• All profits from sales of this game go to help feed starving children all over the United States.

Ethos: the ethical appeal

What it does:

• based on how much the reader believes in or trusts the writer.

• affected by many things, including logical appeal

  • (if a writer doesn’t have logical appeal or facts to back up an opinion, it is unlikely he/she will be trusted.)

• The writer’s support for his/her opinion (i.e. did he do his “homework” and get his facts straight?)

• The writer’s presentation of his/her text (i.e. following accepted publishing guidelines, oratory, etc.)

• The writer’s authority, background, and experience relating to the topic

• The writer’s perceived or actual biases

• The writer’s attitude toward the reader as expressed within the  text (related to tone)

Typical Techniques

Ethos: the ethical appeal

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of ethos, or ethical?

• Buying this game will save animals lives because profits will be donated to animal shelters.

• Travis Kelce says Taylor Swift's new album is the best album he's ever heard.

• Dr. Scott Maxwell, cardiologist, says exercising at least 30 minutes a day reduces your risk of heart attack by 50%.