Types of Argument &Ethos, Pathos, Logos

1. Types of Argument&Ethos, Pathos, Logos How to utilize emotion, credibility and logic effectively in your written and spoken arguements

2. We use arguments to: • Inform (street signs, notice, newspaper headlines, ad campaigns for films). • Convince (reports, academic articles, debate topics) • Persuade-move audiences enough to provoke action, whether that involves buying a product, voting for a candidate, or supporting a policy. (Advertisements, political blogs, editorial). They all utilize rhetoric to motivate action, produce change or win a point. Moves from analysis to action.

3. We use arguments to: • Explore-if there is an opponent (if at all), it is the status quo or current trend that is puzzling. The essential argument in any such piece is the writer’s assertion that a problem exits. • Make decisions- pro/con in our own lives as well as in public forum. • Meditate or pray-familiar prayer or manta can offer peace of mind and often it “argues” for something: Serenity prayer. God grant me the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference.

4. We also argue about: • Academics: discussion within our disciplines • The past: forensic arguments. These are common in business, government and academia. It’s point is to enhance and sharpen knowledge, not to just generate heat or score points. • The future: deliberative arguments. These draw on data and testimony. • The Present: arguments about contemporary values-that is the beliefs and assumptions that are widely held within socieity.

5. Types of Argument • Arguments of fact-did something happen? It can be proved or disproved with specific evidence or testimony. • Arguments of definition: What is the nature of the thing? Is a human fetus a human being? Is Batman a tragic figure? • Arguments of Evaluation and Causality: What is the Quality or Cause of the Thing? Ford vs. Chevy. These arguments move forward typically by presenting criteria and then measuring individual people, ideas, or things against those standards.

6. Last type of argument • Proposal Arguments: What actions should be taken? They first describe a problem so well that readers ask: What can we do?

7. Ethos, Pathos, Logos • Ethos=ethics or credibility • Pathos=emotional appeal • Logos=logical appeals

8. Pathos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpdeNcH1H8A • We use emotions in our writing by the words we choose. We choose words with rich description and evocative images and emotions. • We use emotions in our writing to build bridges with our readers, so they know we “feel their pain. This is especially important when writing on sensitive issues.

9. Pathos • We also use emotions to sustain an argument-images in campaign ads of one candidate scowling. This can be tricky and can turn your audience against you. • Humor is an emotion that does help your argument-sometimes the sugar that makes the medicine go down. It also helps people to suspend their judgments and prejudices. • What would be an emotional appeal you could use when writing a persuasive essay about turning to a vegetarian or vegan diet?