The Rhetoric of the Op-Ed Page:
Ethos, Logos, and Pathos
 In this mini-unit you will learn how
to use Aristotle’s concepts of ethos,
logos, and pathos to analyze
editorials and opinion pieces. You
will read an opinion piece, and learn
how to write a letter to the editor of
a newspaper expressing your own
opinion using the methods of
persuasion and rhetorical devices.
Journal Persuasion
 Think of a time you tried to persuade a
parent, a teacher, or a friend. What were
you trying to persuade them to do or
think? What arguments did you use to
persuade them? Were you successful?
Why or why not?
Persuasion in action
 In a small group, discuss the strategies you and
your friends use when they are trying to borrow
a car, go to a concert, buy new clothes, or
achieve some other goal.
 Pick one situation and write a short skit about it
showing your persuasive strategies in action.
Each skit should demonstrate logical,
emotional, and ethical persuasion. Rehearse
and perform your skit for the class.
 10 Participation points
Vocabulary Preview of “A Change
of Heart About Animals”
 humane = characterized by tenderness, compassion,
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sympathy for people and animals, especially for the
suffering or distressed
inhumane = not humane; lacking humanity, kindness,
compassion
cognitive = 1. of or pertaining to cognition
2. of or pertaining to the mental processes of perception,
memory, judgment, and reasoning, as contrasted with
emotional and volitional processes
genetically wired = in your genes; predisposed
empathy = 1. intellectual identification w/ or vicarious
experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of
another
First Reading of “A Change of
Heart About Animals”
 Draw a line where the introduction ends. Is it
after the first paragraph, or are there more
introductory paragraphs?
 Divide the body of the essay into sections
based on topics.
 Draw a line where the conclusion begins. Is
it the last paragraph, or does it begin before
that?
 As you read, highlight the thesis and major
arguments in one color, and highlight the
evidence used to support the author’s
arguments in another color.
Second Reading—Descriptive
Outlining Annotation and Summary
 For each paragraph or section, write
brief statements in the margin that
summarize that paragraph or section
 What does each section say?
 After you have done this, using your
marginal notes, write a concise
summary of the Rifkin article
Ethos, Logos, Pathos
At this point, ethos, logos and pathos come
back into play. From the analysis you
have done so far, you should be wellprepared to analyze the logic and
support of the arguments, the character
and intentions of the author, and the
emotional effects of the language and
the details on the reader.