ETHOS, PATHOS AND LOGOS
T U E S D A Y , N O VE M B E R 1 8 TH, 2 0 1 4
How is
persuasion and
media related?
LEARNING GOALS
• Today I am learning to:
• What Aristotle’s Modes of Persuasion are (ethos, pathos and
logos)
• How Modes of Persuasion are used in writing and
connected to media
• How to write an argumentative paragraph
WHO AM I?
“It is the mark of an
educated mind to
be able to
entertain a thought
without accepting
it.”
ARISTOTLE
• Greek philosopher and
scientist
• Born 384 BC
• Joined Plato’s Academy in
Athens when he turned 18
– remained here until he
was 37
• Tutored Alexander the
Great
• He wrote on many topics
including, philosophy,
zoology, physics,
linguistics, etc.
RHETORIC
• One of the topics he focused on was rhetoric
• Rhetoric is the art of speaking or writing effectively
• He came up with the idea of rhetorical strategies or
devices called. “Modes of Persuasion”
• These classify the speaker’s appeal to the audience
1. Ethos
2. Pathos
3. Logos
ETHOS
• Greek for ‘character’
• Refers to the credibility
or ethical appeal
• We tend to believe
people whom we
respect
• You must project to your
viewers that you are
worth listening to
PATHOS
• Greek for ‘experience’
• Appeals to the viewer’s
emotions
• Language choice
affects the audience’s
emotional response,
and emotional appeal
can effectively be used
to enhance a
story/argument
LOGOS
• Greek for ‘word’
• Persuading the audience
with reason or logic
• This is the most important of
the three and Aristotle’s
favourite
• Giving reason or support is
at the heart of
argumentation
RAP LYRICS ON TRIAL
• As we read through the
article,
highlight/underline/circle
examples of Logos,
Pathos and Ethos
• Use a different colour for
each
THINK PAIR AND SHARE
• Have you ever tried to persuade a family member
or friend? What was it about? What did you use to
convince this person of your argument?
• Did you use statistics or logic?
• Did you present yourself as someone who was
responsible?
• Did you attempt to make the person feel bad?
• Which appeals worked best?
YOUR TURN TO ARGUE
• Use rhetorical devices (ethos, pathos and logos) to write
a persuasive argument on one of the questions below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Should the private lives of the famous be off limits?
Should athletes who abuse illegal drugs have to give up their
titles and medals?
Is school designed more for girls than boys?
Should there be stricter rules about how coaches treat their
players?
Should what you say on Facebook be grounds for getting
fired?
When should you be able to buy cigarettes, drink alcohol,
vote, drive and fight in wars?
Does the use of technology in class effect a student’s
learning?
ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
ARGUMENT
WILT (What I’m learning today):
• What Aristotle’s Modes of
Persuasion are (ethos, pathos and
logos)
• How Modes of Persuasion are used
in writing and connected to media
• How to write an argumentative
paragraph
WILF (What I’m looking for):
•
•
•
•
Use of ethos in argument
Use of pathos in argument
Use of logos in argument
Evidence of
stance/purpose/evidence in
paragraph writing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Topics
Should the private lives of
the famous be off limits?
Should athletes who abuse
illegal drugs have to give
up their titles and medals?
Is school designed more for
girls than boys?
Should there be stricter
rules about how coaches
treat their players?
Should what you say on
Facebook be grounds for
getting fired?
When should you be able
to buy cigarettes, drink
alcohol, vote, drive and
fight in wars?
Does the use of technology
in class effect a student’s
learning?