Using Rhetoric
and Persuading an
Audience
Need: Binder, SB text, and a highlighter
What is rhetoric?
Turn to page 65 in your SB text to
find out!

Rhetoric-The use of words to
persuade either in writing or speech

Rhetorical Appeals-Emotional,
ethical, and logical appeals used to
try to persuade an audience to
agree with the writer or speaker
The Rhetorical Triangle
It is helpful to think of the
rhetorical appeals as a triangle

Logos – TEXT – What information, evidence, and logical
reasoning are offered within the text?

Pathos – AUDIENCE – What values, beliefs, and emotions
are appealed to within the text? How does the text
evoke the audience’s feelings?

Ethos – SPEAKER – What perception of the speaker is
created within the text? How does the text evoke the
audience’s trust?
Need more description of
rhetorical appeals?

Pathos (Emotional Appeals): Attempt to
persuade the reader or listener by appealing
to the senses and emotions

Political Ads-politicians kiss babies or
shake hands with the elderly

Vivid Sensory Detail

Awaken the senses and possibly
manipulate the emotions of the audience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gsp
Elv1yvc
Type #2

Ethos (Ethical Appeals): Attempt to persuade the
reader or listener by focusing on the qualifications
or character of the speaker.

Speaker’s credibility is a large part of the
ethical appeal.

Focus more on the speaker over the situation
itself.
 ie:
Experts or Celebrity Endorsements of
Products
 ie:
Teen’s argument that he or she should
be allowed to do something because he or
she has never been in trouble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi7TLJjy_
KM
Type #3

Logos (Logical Appeals): Attempt to persuade
readers or listeners by leading them down the
road of logic.

Allows audience to draw their own
conclusions.

State facts and show how the facts are
interrelated
 If/them

statements are examples
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q
LGqgkLyWuQ
Take a look at page 66 in your
SB text

For number 1:
1.
Read each example
2.
Write the part of the rhetorical
triangle in which each would fit.
Take a look at page 66 in your
SB text

For number 2:

Imagine you are trying to convince
your parent/guardian to buy you
something expensive.
1. Write your own examples of ethos,
pathos, and logos that you could use
to CONVINCE someone you need that
expensive item.
Persuasion vs. Argument

What do think the difference is between
persuasion and argument? Which appeals go
where?
Persuasion – relies more on the speaker’s or
writer’s credibility (ethos) and on the emotional
appeals made to the audience (pathos)
Argument – relies on reason and logical appeals
(logos)
Try it out…
 Which
part of the rhetorical
triangle should be emphasized
if you want to convince your
audience of the validity of your
claim?
 Respond
on page 66.
Groups

Group 1: Lexie, Eric, Zach, Mitchell

Group 2: Trinity, Isaiah, Ben, Brianna

Group 3: Trevor, Katie, Jackson, Hunter

Group 4: Gabby, Bella, Alexis, Nyah

Group 5: Kendall, Emma, Keaton, Abby

Group 6: Noah, Heleana, Katelyn, Grace

Group 7: Kat, Sharon, Cassy, Colton

Group 8: David, Trey, Jared
As you read the following
speech by President Barack
Obama, mark the text for
examples of logos, ethos, and
pathos!
Page 67 in your SB text
SMELL
SMELL what? Check out page 71
in your SB text!

S – Sender

M – Message

E – Emotional Strategies

L – Logical strategies

L – Language
Use the hints and questions on page 71 to complete the
SMELL organizer on page 72. Think about how President
Obama uses the different rhetorical appeals to persuade his
audience. Include specific quotes and textual evidence to
answer the questions in the graphic organizer.