Rhetorical Appeals Quiz

Can you spot the use of ethos in this sentence: 'I've been a doctor for 20 years, and I can tell you this medicine is safe and effective.'

• The speaker's 20 years of experience as a musician shows their credibility (ethos).

• The speaker's 20 years of experience as a pilot shows their credibility (ethos).

• The speaker's 20 years of experience as a chef shows their credibility (ethos).

• The speaker's 20 years of experience as a doctor shows their credibility (ethos).

Describe how the speaker uses pathos in the statement: 'Consider the kids who will starve if we don't act now.'

• The speaker uses pathos by stimulating the audience's physical senses

• The speaker uses pathos by triggering the audience's sense of humor

• The speaker uses pathos by engaging the audience's logical thinking

• The speaker uses pathos by touching the audience's feelings, particularly by raising concern for the children's welfare.

Understand the use of logos in this statement: 'Research indicates that consistent physical activity results in better heart health and overall wellness.'

• The phrase 'overall wellness' is a pathos appeal

• The statement uses 'better heart health' to appeal to ethics

• The phrase 'research indicates' provides evidence to support the claim, making it a logos appeal.

• The phrase 'consistent physical activity' appeals to emotions

Assess the use of persuasive techniques in the following advertisement: 'Our product is the best because it is recommended by 9 out of 10 doctors.'

Choose more than one

• Logos

• Kairos

• Pathos

• Ethos

Find out how ethos is used in this sentence: 'As a scientist with a Ph.D. in environmental studies, I can confirm that climate change is a real and urgent issue.'

• The speaker's knowledge in environmental studies

• The speaker's personal view on climate change

• The use of emotional words in the sentence

• The speaker's authority as a scientist with a Ph.D. in environmental studies

Explain how the speaker uses pathos in the statement: 'Imagine a world where no child is hungry at bedtime, where everyone can get education and healthcare.'

• The speaker uses pathos by talking about the economic advantages of education and healthcare

• The speaker uses pathos by appealing to the audience's logical thinking and reasoning

• The speaker uses pathos by using facts and figures to back up their argument

• The speaker uses pathos by painting a picture of a world where no child is hungry at bedtime and everyone can get education and healthcare.

Identify the use of logos in this statement: 'Historical data and scientific evidence show that human activities are causing global warming.'

• The use of humor in the statement shows the use of logos.

• The use of personal stories in the statement shows the use of logos.

• The use of historical data and scientific evidence in the statement shows the use of logos.

• The use of emotional language in the statement shows the use of logos.

Assess how the author uses different strategies in the following persuasive essay: 'The author uses personal stories, data, and emotional words to convince the readers.'

• The author uses personal stories, data, and emotional words to convince the readers.

• The author uses historical references, expert views, and vivid descriptions to convince the readers.

• The author uses logical arguments, emotional appeals, and humor to convince the readers.

• The author uses personal beliefs, exaggerated statements, and unrelated stories to convince the readers.

Identify the use of pathos in this sentence: 'The distressing pictures of the damage caused by the storm should make us all want to give.'

• The speaker's use of scientific facts to back up their argument

• The speaker's use of distressing pictures to stir up emotions

• The speaker's use of jokes to lighten the atmosphere

• The speaker's use of personal stories to get their point across

Identify the use of ethos in this statement: 'As a well-known historian, I can tell you that this event greatly affected history.'

• The speaker's use of humor in the statement shows ethos.

• The speaker's credibility as a well-known historian shows ethos.

• The speaker's use of personal stories in the statement shows ethos.

• The speaker's use of emotional words in the statement shows ethos.