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7.1: Introduction to Rhetorical Appeals --Readings

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    248871
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    Make a list of what persuasive strategies authors, speakers, and advertisers use to convey a message to an audience. Think about texts that you have read, advertisements you have seen in video or on the train, and even what persuasive techniques content creators use in their videos. Chances are that a majority of the things you listed are rhetorical devices and appeals. What exactly are these? They are techniques that an author/speaker/brand utilizes in order to convey to a reader/audience their message with the goal of persuading them. When you understand how to use rhetorical appeals you will be able to better evaluate texts that you read and strengthen your own writing skills.

    What are the four types of rhetorical appeals?

    1. Logos
    2. Pathos
    3. Ethos
    4. Kairos

    Logos

    What is it?

    Logos appeals to reason and logic to support a claim and to persuade an audience.

    Characteristics:

    • Focuses on the text of the argument (the message)
    • Often uses data to support its claim
    • Uses consistency and clarity within its argument
    • Counters emotional biases by presenting objective evidence

    Pathos

    What is it?

    Pathos appeals to emotions, beliefs, and values.

    Characteristics:

    • Focuses on the emotions, values, and beliefs of the author’s intended audience
    • Elicits empathy from audience (audience can then relate to those who are affected by the topic)
    • Helps audience understand an argument’s significance by often explaining how it would help or harm the world around them
    • Counters emotional biases by presenting objective evidence

    Ethos

    What is it?

    Ethos appeals to the author’s/speaker’s credibility, character, and trustworthiness.

    Characteristics:

    • An author may provide more than one side of an issue in order to create ethos and then explaining why the author’s claim is correct
    • Can rely on the author’s reputation/expertise in a specific field
    • Can rely on organizations/companies that the author is associated with
    • Can also rely on where the author’s work is being published (personal blog versus a newspaper)

    Kairos

    What is it?

    Kairos refers to the timeliness of an argument.

    Characteristics:

    • Requires an appropriate tone, structure, and to come at the right time
    • Argument essentially relies on the concept that “now” is the best time to talk about it

    Video: “Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos, Logos & Pathos!”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihbIm3YiGc0

    What is rhetorical analysis?

    A rhetorical analysis breaks down the whole (article, speech, commercial) into pieces and examines the author’s purpose (message) and how the author is attempting to convey that message. A rhetorical analysis explains what, why, and how.

    • What is taking place within the article/speech/commercial/etc.
    • Why the author/speaker/advertiser might have chosen a specific rhetorical appeal or device
    • How the author’s choices impact the audience’s reception of the message

    A rhetorical analysis also requires you to ask whether the author/speaker successfully supported their claim.

    A rhetorical analysis is not a summary of the article, speech, or video.


    7.1: Introduction to Rhetorical Appeals --Readings is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 1.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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