Exploring Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
This week introduces you to several concepts and
persuasive strategies you work on throughout this course. The persuasive strategies are
ethos (establishment of
credibility),
pathos (emotional appeal), and
logos (sound logic). They originated with Aristotle and are still
relevant and applicable to your writing today. In this Discussion, you analyze the effectiveness of an author’s use of persuasive strategies.
.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review the following selected readings in The Longman Writer: Rhetoric, Reader, Research Guide, and Handbook.
- Chapter 14 selection, œCyberschool by Clifford Stoll (pp. 282“284)
- Chapter 18, œArgumentation-Persuasion (pp. 398“420 only): How does the type of audience influence the kinds of persuasive techniques an author uses in an essay?
- Chapter 18 selection, œIn Praise of the ˜F’ Word by Mary Sherry (pp. 438“439)
- Chapter 20, œWriting the Research Paper (pp. 523“544, 570“572 only): How does citing outside sources help increase the effectiveness of an author’s persuasive arguments?
- Read the Discussion Spark topic/question or comment posted by your Instructor in the Discussion Thread on Day 1.
Think about how
ethos, pathos, and
logos are defined in a writing context. Consider how understanding
ethos, pathos, and
logos affects how you prepare for writing your assignments.
Choose
one author (Stoll or Sherry) from the selected readings in
The
Longman Writer to write about for this Discussion assignment. Consider the author’s credibility, use of emotional appeal, and use of logic. How did he or she make use of
ethos, pathos, and
logos?
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by
Day 2 a 1- to 2-paragraph response to the
Discussion Spark.
Note: The Discussion Spark and the weekly Discussion topic below will be graded together. You will see one score in your
My Grades area.
Post by Day 3 a 1- to 2-paragraph
summary of your analysis explaining the
ethos, pathos, and
logos
.
