the art of argument

THE ART OF ARGUMENTETHOS/PATHOS/LOGOS

YOU KNOW THIS. YOU JUST DON’T KNOW THAT YOU KNOW IT.Let’s go back to that list of things you don’t like.

PARTNER A: Choose the thing from your list that you dislike the most. You have one minute to convince your partner that _______________________ is as awful as you think it is.

PARTNER B: Listen to your partner. In your notebook, jot down the things they say.

YOU KNOW THIS. YOU JUST DON’T KNOW THAT YOU KNOW IT.Now, we’re going to watch a clip from a show called Boston Legal.

In it, a defense lawyer from Boston travels to a courtroom in Texas to prevent his client from receiving the death penalty.

He’s going to try a bunch of different ways to convince the judges that his client should not be executed. As you watch, jot down as many as you can.

YOU JUST RESURRECTED THIS GUY.

Aristotle (384 B.C. – 322 B.C.)

Greek Philosopher

Wrote On Rhetoric in 350 B.C.

WHAT IS RHETORIC?The art of persuasion in speaking and writing.

ETHOS (character)• Refers to the trustworthiness or credibility of the speaker• Relies on reputation, authority or expertise• Also relies on style (word choice, etc.) and tone• About the audience’s perception of you• We trust you

PATHOS (suffering/experience)• Refers to emotional response, but that’s a little too easy • Appealing to audience sympathy and imagination• Commonly relies on narrative or story• About the audience’s connection to you• We feel what you feel

LOGOS (word)• Appeal to logic• The clarity of the claim, the logic of its reasons, and the

effectiveness of its supporting evidence• Commonly relies on facts, statistics, reasoning, etc.• We believe you because you make sense

THE RHETORICAL TRIANGLE!

ETHOS

PATHOSLOGOS

YOUR TURNWith a partner, look through your magazine. Find an ad that appeals to the rhetorical appeal with which you most identify.

HEAD = LOGOS

HEART = PATHOS

GUT = ETHOS