English Class Paper


	Ethos (think ETHICAL Appeal of the Writer)
	This appeal involves convincing your audience that you are intelligent and can be trusted. In other words, this appeal shows that you are CREDIBLE, a reliable source of information and have sought out reliable information on the topic. Writers cannot simply say to their audience "I can be trusted because I'm smart and a good person." This appeal is perhaps the most difficult to establish; a writer has to prove him or herself by demonstrating that he or she understands what is being argued by: Providing personal experience or know someone else who has relevant personal experience, Using expert support to show that you are knowledgeable on the topic: through extensive research, through up-to-date research through recognized authorities in the field (this will also help to prevent your appeal from seeming too personal), through recent, relevant research. Using an appropriate writing style by means of professional and strong words that carry appropriate connotations. Treating your audience with respect while showing that you have your audience’s best interests at heart by establishing some common ground. You can do this by acknowledging the opinion of the opposition, and then show how both sides agree on at least one aspect. This is essential in establishing your ethos (or credibility) and your ability to treat the topic fairly. Be careful not to over-do this however so that it remains clear which side you are supporting. paving common ground by utilizing shared values, hopes, expectations, dreams, ideas, fears, etc. establishing common ground through the use of details the audience can relate to and/or identify with.
	Logos (think LOGICAL Appeal)
	You appeal to logic when you rely on your audience’s intelligence and when you offer credible evidence to support your argument. That evidence includes: FACTS- These are valuable because they are not debatable; they represent the truth EXAMPLES- These include events or circumstances that your audience can relate to their life and, thus, makes sense to them. PRECEDENTS- These are specific examples (historical and personal) from the past (I hurt myself when I did that, so it makes sense not to do that again) AUTHORITY- The authority must be timely (not out-dated), and it must be qualified to judge the topic and, thus, make sense why it is being used to support a point (and overall argument). DEDUCTIVE/INDUCTIVE- Deductive reasoning is when you pick apart evidence to reach conclusions, and inductive reasoning is when you add logical pieces to the evidence to reach conclusions.
	Pathos (think PASSIONATE or emotional Appeal)
	This kind of appeal can be very effective if it’s not over-done, especially if your topic is an emotional one. Because an audience has emotions as well as intellect, an argument should seek to engage the audience emotionally. However, using emotional appeal alone is not as effective as when it is used in conjunction with logical and/or ethical appeals. The BEST way to incorporate pathos (or emotional) appeals is by using effective word choice that carries appropriate connotations. Remember, an appeal to pathos is not evident just because emotions are mentioned in a text; instead, when effectively used, pathos causes emotion in the reader/viewer.
	A quick lesson on Denotative versus Connotative Words
	Denotation refers to the dictionary definition of a word. Connotation, on the other hand, refers to words that carry secondary meanings, undertones, and implications. For example, if you were to ask a woman how she'd like to be described from the following list of words, what do you think her answer would be? Slender................................Thin................................Scrawny The answer to this is most likely the word slender. While all the words carry the same denotation (they all mean lean, and not fat), the word slender carries more positive undertones. A slender woman is graceful, elegant, and perhaps even sexy. Thin on the other hand is a fairly neutral word, and it leads women to prefer the word "slender" as it carries the more positive connotation. Finally, the word scrawny brings an unhealthy, overly thin, or bony person to mind, and women generally do not want to be described in this manner. Over time, words shift in their connotative meanings, and writers should be up-to-date on the current connotations of a word. As mentioned in the Pathos section above, one of the most effective ways to incorporate pathos (or emotional) appeals is by using words that carry appropriate connotations. Here’s another example: "I am not a crack addict. I am not a welfare mother. I am not illiterate..." The words crack addict, welfare mother, and illiterate carry strong connotations. It makes the above statement (while already logical) more powerful. Imagine if the writer used words that carried weaker connotations: "I am not a person who abuses substances. I am not a parent who needs government assistance. I can read." Notice how the emotional appeal is weakened. Even though the logical appeal is present, the statement no longer carries the same strength.