Understanding Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

What does “ethos” appeal to in an audience?

• Emotions

• Logic

• Credibility

• Imagination

Which of the following statements is an example of ethos?

• “As a doctor with 20 years of experience, I assure you this treatment is safe.”

• “If you don’t act now, you could regret it later.”

• “Studies show that this method is effective in 80% of cases.”

• “Imagine yourself succeeding!”

In a persuasive essay, which of the following would most strengthen the author’s ethos?

• Including emotional anecdotes

• Referencing expert qualifications and sources

• Using vivid imagery

• Asking rhetorical questions

Ethos is primarily used to appeal to the audience’s perception of the speaker’s…

• logic and reasoning.

• trustworthiness and character.

• sense of beauty.

• sense of justice.

Pathos is an appeal to what aspect of the audience?

• Logic

• Credibility

• Emotion

• Humor

Which of these statements appeals to pathos?

• “We must invest in our children’s future by funding education. Save the children. They are our future.”

• “This initiative has been proven to work by several studies.”

• “My occupation has struggled because of rising healthcare costs, so I can I know what we need to fix this problem.”

• “This initiative will improve productivity by 10%.”

Pathos is used to make the audience feel…

• logical and reasoned.

• emotionally connected.

• intellectually stimulated.

• skeptical and questioning.

Which scenario is most likely to appeal to pathos?

• Presenting scientific data on climate change

• Sharing a story about a loved one affected by climate change

• Explaining the cause of climate change with statistics

• Listing reputable sources on climate change

What does logos appeal to in an audience?

• Emotion

• Logic

• Ethics

• Sensory details

An example of logos is…

• “We must act now to protect our loved ones.”

• “According to recent studies, 70% of people believe in climate change.”

• “If you act irresponsibly, you’ll face the consequences.”

• “Trust me; I know what’s best for you.”