Ethos Logos Pathos & Logical
Fallacies
Reading Quiz
Pre Test
Read
Post Test
http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/plag/plagiarismtutorial.php
What are Logical Fallacies?
“A fallacy is, very generally, an error in
reasoning. This differs from a factual error,
which is simply being wrong about the
facts. To be more specific, a fallacy is an
"argument" in which the premises given for
the conclusion do not provide the needed
degree of support.”
The Nizkor Project
Types of logical fallacies
Jumping on the bandwagon: Using the term everyone
in your argument when a writer makes and argument.
Often many people will agree with your argument, but
seldom will everyone. The only way to prove that
everyone agrees with you is to have asked everyone.
Everyone in the United States is tired of gun
violence and it is time to enact laws to stop it
Personal Attack: Instead of attacking the
reasoning the writer attacks the person
behind the claim.
People who support gun control are
stupid.
Slippery Slope: This fallacy claims that one action
will lead to a whole series of undesirable events –
without offering any proof. When you see a claim
where the outcomes seems to be a stretch from the
beginning ask yourself, “Will this first action
definitely lead to the next?”
If everyone carried a gun, there would be no
more mass shootings.
Emotive Language: This fallacy appeals to the
readers emotions without supporting the
argument
Can you imagine how the parents of the children
from Sandy Hook feel waking up every day without
their child?
Either or Thinking: There are often more than two
outcomes to an argument. When you see an either/or
statement in your reading ask yourself, are there really only
two possible outcomes? When you are writing, remember
that there are really many possible outcomes to an
argument.
Either we ban all gun sales now or mentally ill people
will continue to shoot school children.
Hasty Generalizations: This is jumping to
conclusions.
If we enact tougher gun control laws there
will be no more violence in schools.
 Red Herring: This fallacy uses a
distraction to get the reader to think
about something other than the
argument.
Richard Nixon’s Checkers Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXnwW-rGWsU
Greek philosopher Aristotle divided the
means of persuasion, appeals, into three
categories--Ethos, Pathos, Logos.
 Ethos (Credibility), or ethical appeal,
convincing by the character of the author.
 We tend to believe people whom we respect.
Problem: to convince the reader that you are
someone worth listening to.
 Use credible sources to support your argument.
Pathos (Emotional)
 Persuade by appealing to the reader's emotions.
 Texts ranging from classic essays to contemporary
advertisements use pathos, emotional appeals to
persuade.
 Language choice affects the audience's emotional
response.
 Emotional appeal can effectively be used to enhance
an argument.
Logos (Logical) Persuade by the use of reasoning.
• Facts and Statistics to support your claim.
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFcCFEeOEeg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFcCFEeOEeg