“Three Ways to
Persuade”
A Rhetorical
Strategy
Ethos: The Writer’s Character or
Image
• What character or image appears to the
audience?
• Goodwill, authority, expertise
• Writer’s ethos created by diction & style
• What does Edlund use to help explain
ethos?
• Examples: advertising & celebrities
Logos: Logical Arguments
• Valued over speaker’s character or audience’s
emotions
• Formal logic/scientific reasoning
• Syllogisms – a form of reasoning
• Enthymeme – type of syllogism that is
assumed (can lead to faulty assumptions)
• Goal is to convince that assumptions are true
• What does Edlund use to help explain
logos?
• Historical Example: Bubonic Plague
Pathos: The Emotions of the
Audience
• Emotions influence rational judgements
• Often seen in politics and advertising
• What does Edlund use to help explain
pathos?
• Historical, Political, & Social Examples
Pyramid of Appeals
• You will be creating a mini pyramid of
the three appeals you’ve learned to
demonstrate your understanding.
• What level of thinking does this involve?
• Comprehension & Application
Instructions
• 1) Write an X on opposite sides of the
cut triangle pieces.
• 2) In the inside of the pyramid, label
the 3 sides as Ethos, Pathos, Logos.
• 3) Write your explanation of each
appeal in complete sentences.
HW: Complete the pyramid
• Draw or find an image that represents
the type of appeal being used.
• Draw or glue the image onto the
outside of the pyramid.
• Your peers should be able to determine
the appeal based on the image.
• We will staple the pyramids together in
class the next day.
Expository Summary
• Writing a summary for an expository (informational)
text is similar to a literary summary but with minor
differences.
• Topic Sentence – introduce the title, author, genre
and explain what the text is about
• Supporting Sentences – discuss the main points
and important information of the text
• Concluding Sentence – explain the author’s
conclusions
• Write all parts of the summary in your own words.
Make sure all facts and details are correct. Leave ALL
opinions out of the summary. The summary should
be BRIEF (5-8 sentences).
In his article “Three Ways to Persuade,” John Edlund
discusses Aristotle’s ways to persuade: ethos, logos,
and pathos. Ethos, Greek for ethics or ethical, describes
how the character or image of the speaker is presented
to the audience such as through their goodwill,
authority, or expertise. Logos, which is valued over
ethos and pathos, uses formal reasoning like science or
rhetorical reasoning like syllogisms and enthymemes.
Pathos “influences rational judgments” because they
target people’s emotions, which are motivating forces.
Edlund explains that the use of these appeals can be
effective rhetorical techniques to persuade an audience.
Your Turn
• You have 10 minutes to write an
expository summary of “Three Ways to
Persuade”.
• Use the Steps, Checklist, and Power
Verbs handout to help you.
• Remember, NO opinions of the article –
just retell the main points.
Ready, Set, Go!
PAPA Square:
Rhetorical Analysis
• Rhetoric = the art of writing effectively
• Let’s see how effective Edlund is in writing his
article
• What is Edlund’s argument in this article?
• Who is his audience?
• What is his purpose and the desired outcome of
his audience?
• What persona or public image does he create with
the language and tone he uses?
• What rhetorical strategies does he use to
persuade? (Appeals, language, etc.)
PAPA Square: Rhetorical Analysis
• Answering these questions helps to analyze
the rhetoric (persuasive skills) a writer uses
Purpose:
Inform, persuade,
entertain
Audience:
Intended readers
Rhetorical Methods
& Strategies:
•Ethical Appeals
•Emotional Appeals
•Logical Appeals
•Stylistic Devices
Persona:
Public image/tone
Argument:
Thesis/main idea
Let’s
Practice
•
•
•
•
•
Argument
Purpose
Audience
Persona
Rhetorical
Strategies
• Ethos
• Pathos
• Logos
Your Turn:
Name that Argument
• In groups, you will analyze a magazine
advertisement. # yourselves 1, 2, 3, 4.
• 1) Audience 2) Purpose 3) Argument 4) Persona
• All of you will work on the Rhetorical Strategies
• Ethos, Pathos, Logos
• On a poster, create a PAPA square by
filling in the appropriate information.
• Groups will share their findings with the
class.
Your Turn:
Name that Argument
• I will pass out the ads
• 1 group member to get the poster
• 1 group member to get the supply
box – Keep all supplies organized!
You have 15 minutes. Go!