INTRODUCTION
PRE-WRITING
PROCESS
LANGUAGE
PERSUASIVE
TECHNIQUES
SAMPLE ESSAYS
An
argument
Persuades
the audience
to believe in
your
opinion on
the topic.
Uses
reasoning,
facts,
examples,
and quotes
to convince
the reader.
Persuasive Techniques are Everywhere!
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaGJNx
CxB-s&feature=related
What is the objective or goal of
persuasive writing?
• to state the writer’s opinion
• to give reasons why the reader should agree
• to convince the reader to take action
Copying permitted
Reasons to Know How to
Write a Persuasive Essay…
•Every good speech, discussion or essay needs strong
closure to force the reader or listener to think carefully
about what you have just said or written.
•Emphasizes critical thinking and analysis skills
• Relativity:
•Provides practice for college admissions/cover
letter writing
Required to demonstrate this skill on the
Standardized Testing
Where else?
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.
Read the prompt carefully before you
begin.
• Writing Situation: Many eighteen year olds who are old
enough to vote, choose not to register, not participating in
elections. Do you think it is important to register and
exercise your right to vote? Consider the reasons one would
want to register and participate in elections.
• Write an essay in support of or against voting.
• OR Writing Situation: For your annual seventh grade field
trip, your principal has decided to allow the students to help
decide where the trip will take place. The person who
provides the best argument will get to decide where the
students go.
• Write a letter to your principal explaining where you
want to go and why it is the best place.
Identify in the “WRITING TASK” If you’re
writing a letter and to whom.
• “Write a letter to the newspaper” = Dear Editor,
• “Write a letter to board members” = Dear Board of
Education Members,
• “Write a letter to your principal” = Dear Principal,
• “Write a letter to the mayor” = Dear Mayor,
• “Write an essay” = You do not need an opening
salutation
Purpose & Audience
• It is important to always keep your PURPOSE for writing
in mind.
–
–
–
–
Persuasive
Expository
Narrative
Descriptive
• Knowing your AUDIENCE determines the tone and
language or vocabulary of your writing
– FORMAL WRITING-for a teacher, boss, principal, parent,
political representative, etc…
– INFORMAL WRITING-for a friend, cousin, close family
member, etc…
PLANNING
Use MEETS
Imagine you are writing an essay in
support of school uniforms.
Pick your position: which side of the
problem/issue are you on?
SUPPORT
AGAINST
M
E
E
T
S
M: Money
•Parents can save money on
clothes because they are buying
uniforms.
Can you think of another
reason for or against?
E: Education
• Students will concentrate more on their
school work and less on what other
people are wearing.
• Can you think of another reason for or
against?
E: Effort
• You do not have to think about what
you are going to wear every day.
• Can you think of another reason for
or against?
T: Time
• You can sleep later in the morning
because you already know what you are
going to wear.
• Can you think of another reason for or
against?
S: Safety
• There will be less teasing because
everyone is dressed the same.
• Can you think of another reason for or
against?
FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH:
SECOND PARAGRAPH:
Transition Word: ______
Transition Word: ______
First Body Paragraph Reason
 Supporting Detail 1
 Supporting Detail 2
 Supporting Detail 3
Second Body Paragraph Reason
 Supporting Detail 1
 Supporting Detail 2
 Supporting Detail 3
INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH: List your hook, opinion and 3 reasons
THIRD BODY PARAGRAPH:
Transition Word: ______
Third Body Paragraph Reason
 Supporting Detail 1
 Supporting Detail 2
 Supporting Detail 3
CONCLUSION:
 Can you state a possible alternative?
(Another option)
Restate your opinion with your three
reasons.
End with a closing, thought-provoking
sentence.
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Five Paragraph Essay Structure
Introduction-GRAB your reader’s
attention. Go from GENERAL to
SPECIFIC. The last line is your thesis
statement!
Body #1: Begin with a transition and
discuss your first example Include
persuasive techniques!
Body #2: Begin with a transition and
discuss your second (weakest) example.
Include persuasive techniques!
Body #3: Begin with a transition and
discuss your third example Include
persuasive techniques!
Conclusion: Final paragraph should
restate thesis IN A NEW WAY. Wrap
up your topic with a “call for action”
and a clincher sentence. MAKE IT
MEMORABLE!
INTRO
USE A LEAD!!!
•
Direct lead – defines the problem or solution
“Parents of a school are demanding a rule that would forbid students from going across the
street to the store in the morning”
•
Question lead – the writer asks the reader a rhetorical question
“What would happen at our school if students had no consequences for their behavior?”
•
Statistical lead – facts (real or pretend)
“According to the Journal of Education, 3 out of 5 children score higher on standardized
tests when they are in a self contained classroom.”
•
Narrative lead – start with an interesting story or personal anecdote
“Last year, in my old school, getting ready in the morning was much easier because we wore
uniforms.”
•
Word Lead
This starts with a great word, WORD CHOICE, and makes the reader think, followed by a creative
statement
Nutrition . . . it will be a thing of the past if students gorge themselves on Big Macs every
day!
•
The Descriptive Lead
This lead splashes images like poetry, painting vivid characters, animals, objects, or unusual settings.
The smell of fries gives me a rush as soon as I exit the school building. I follow my nose until the
golden arches come into sight, and I burst through the gleaming glass doors like a man with a mission.
The whirring of milk shakes and sizzle of burgers on the griddle excite me, and I’m looking forward to a
hot lunch as I’ve never looked forward to lunch in our school cafeteria. I wish parents would try to
understand this instead of asking for a rule that would forbid us from leaving the building for lunch. I
strongly oppose their demands.
•
The Imagine Lead
The writer asks the reader to imagine something. It is closely related to the descriptive lead.
Can you imagine having the freedom to choose your lunch from a delicious variety of selections
served piping hot? Isn’t it great to be able to sit and talk to your friends for forty minutes without the
blasting noise of the cafeteria? Well, that’s what the students from our school have been enjoying for the
past month; however we may lose that privilege if the groups of parents who oppose this practice are
supported by the school board. I personally take pleasure in this relaxing lunch and would like it to
continue.
•
The Combination Lead
This technique combines two or more of the above leads in an opening. For example, the question and
descriptive leads work well together.
I can just smell it now. I love fast food restaurants. They are the best for me. I can’t live without
them, can you? Ever since Burger King opened up across the street from my school, each day has been
so delicious. Up until last week, I read an article in the school newspaper which brought me to my feet.
It stated that some parents are demanding a school rule that would forbid students from entering the
restaurant during school hours. After reading the article I started thinking. Then I realized that I oppose
this controversial issue. I find this demand very inappropriate for many reasons.
State The Problem/Situation
• After your write a lead, you need to give
a clear statement of what your problem
is.
• Let the reader know what your essay will
be focused on
Thesis Statements
A THESIS STATEMENT is one sentence that
states the purpose of your paper.
A specific subject
+
A particular stand, feeling or position
THESIS STATEMENT
Creating a Thesis…
Your thesis should ANSWER a single QUESTION you have
about your topic.
• STEP 1: Come up with a specific question about
your topic based upon your opinion.
• STEP 2: Answer the question.
– The answer to your question should be the beginning of
your thesis statement.
First Body Paragraph
ALWAYS NEED A TRANSITION
WORD/PHRASE:
 STATE ONE REASON WHY YOU AGREE OR
DISAGREE
CAN APPEAL TO THE AUDIENCE’S LOGIC,
EMOTIONS, OR MORALS
EXPLAIN 3 SUPPORTING DETAILS TO
SUPPORT/PROVE YOUR REASON:Include specific
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
examples and
allusions.
BONUS
POINTS!
Second Body Paragraph
ALWAYS NEED A TRANSITION
WORD/PHRASE:
 STATE ONE REASON WHY YOU AGREE OR
DISAGREE
CAN APPEAL TO THE AUDIENCE’S LOGIC,
EMOTIONS, OR MORALS
EXPLAIN 3 SUPPORTING DETAILS TO
SUPPORT/PROVE YOUR REASON:Include specific
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
examples and
allusions.
BONUS
POINTS!
Third Body Paragraph
ALWAYS NEED A TRANSITION
WORD/PHRASE:
 STATE ONE REASON WHY YOU AGREE OR
DISAGREE
CAN APPEAL TO THE AUDIENCE’S LOGIC,
EMOTIONS, OR MORALS
EXPLAIN 3 SUPPORTING DETAILS TO
This is where you
SUPPORT/PROVE YOUR REASON: can acknowledge
Include
specific, reallife examples
and allusions.
BONUS
POINTS!
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
 SUPPORTING DETAIL
the opposition.
Prove the other side
is wrong. Choose
one argument from
the other side and
prove it is wrong.
CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH
TRANSITION PHRASE: “AS ONE CAN SEE…..”
1. RESTATE YOUR OPINION AND THREE REASONS.
 STATE A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE
{ANOTHER OPTION}. (NOT IN EVERY
ESSAY)
2. INCLUDE A SENTENCE OR A QUESTION TO BRING
CLOSURE.
 THOUGHT-PROVOKING STATEMENT OR
QUESTION
Call For ACTION!
• Offer a solution to your problem/thesis.
• Give your audience suggestions as to what they
can do to support your position/opinion.
~Write a letter to the principal.
~Start a petition.
~Attend the Board of
Education meeting this Thursday to
support school uniforms.
– EX:
Final Thoughts…
Wrap up your final thoughts, and restate
your opinions in the last paragraph on the
essay.
Restate (in a creative way)
the important points/main
idea in the essay
Regain your audience’s
interest in your ideas
CONCLUSION
Address your audience
with a call of action or
question
Home Page
Most important part of the
essay: Spend time editing
and planning your
conclusion carefully!!
PERSUASIVE WORDS A – Z
Persuasive words motivate readers. Imagine the impact of persuasive words in your writing. Here are a
few sparks for igniting the power of your persuasive essay.
Abundant
Accelerate
Accurate
Achieve
Active
Adopt
Advantage
Affected
Align
Amazing
Ample
Anticipate
Appealing
Articulate
Assess
Audible
Awesome
Beautiful
Boost
Breakthrough
Brilliant
Build
Capture
Certain
Clarity
Clarify
Comfortable
communicate
Compliment
Comprehend
Concrete
Confident
Consider
Connect
Convince
Create
Dazzling
Decide
Define
Deliver
Develop
Discover
Distinguish
Dream
Drive
Eccentric
Effective
Embrace
Emphasize
Ensure
Envision
Establish
Evaluate
Exactly
Examine
Expect
Explore
Exquisite
Fascinating
Flow
Foresee
Foundation
Gain
Gather
Generate
Generous
Gigantic
Gorgeous
Grasp
Grip
Horizon
Hunch
Hush
Hustle
Idea
Identify
Ignite
Illuminate
Illusion
Illustrate
Imagine
Implement
Important
Improve
Improvise
Increase
Incredible
Innovate
Inspiration
Inspire
Intensify
Interesting
Jubilant
Knowledge
Learn
Leverage
Lively
Magnificent
PERSUASIVE WORDS A – Z
Persuasive words motivate readers. Imagine the impact of persuasive words in your writing. Here are a
few sparks for igniting the power of your persuasive essay.
marvelous
Master
Maximize
measure
Mobilize
Motivate
Notice
Observe
Outlook
outrageous
Overcome
Perception
Persuade
Petite
phenomenal
Pinpoint
Plan
Popular
Position
Positive
Prepare
Proclaim
Profit
Profitable
Proud
Quality
Quest
Realize
Reconsider
Reduce
Refresh
Remark
Replace
Respond
Retain
Roaring
Rush
Sacrificing
Scan
Scene
Scope
Sensitive
Shatter
Shift
Shout
Silence
simplify
Softly
Solid
Solve
Speak
speechless
Superb
Stimulate
Succeed
Superior
Supplement
Support
Tantalizing
Tempting
Together
tranquil
Transform
Tremendous
Truly
Trustworthy
Understand
Unleash
Vibrant
View
Vision
Voice
Witness
Workable
Worthwhile
TRANSITION WORDS
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO SHOW LOCATION:
Above
Across
Against
Along
Among
Around
Behind
Below
Beneath
Beside
Between
Beyond
By
Down
In back of
In front of
Inside
Into
Near
Off
Onto
Outside
Over
Throughout
To the
right
Under
underneath
WORDS USED THAT CAN BE USED TO SHOW TIME:
While
After
At
Before
During
First
Second
Third
Now
Until
Meanwhile
Today
Tomorrow
Next week
Yesterday
Soon
Later
Afterward
About
Finally
Then
Next
As soon as
When
suddenly
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO COMPARE TWO THINGS:
Likewise
Also
While
Like
As
Similarly
In the same way
TRANSITION WORDS
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO CONTRAST TWO THINGS:
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO CLARIFY:
But
Still
However
Although
Yet
On the other
hand
Otherwise
That is
For instance
Even though
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO EMPHASIZE A POINT
Again
Truly
Especially
To repeat
In fact
To emphasize
For this reason
WORDS THAT CAN BE USED TO ADD INFORMATION
Again
Another
For instance
For example
Also
As well
Next
And
Besides
Finally
Moreover
Along with
In addition
For example
Additionally
Other
In other words
Concluding Transitions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Clearly CHEETTA
Hence
Evidently
Ergo (a continuing thought)
Thus
Therefore
As one can see
NO SECOND PERSON PRONOUNS!
“YOU” “YOUR “YOURS” SHOULD NOT BE
USED IN FORMAL WRITING!
“You” is sometimes acceptable in the introduction
paragraph for your HOOK only, but nowhere
else. It is considered informal. We should NOT
write how we speak, put your tuxedo and
best dress on when you write!
Use “we, us, our, ours” or “one” or “students”
Having a Strong VOICE in your
Writing
•You feel a strong connection to the
writer’s…
–Emotion
–Energy
–Conviction
–Integrity
–…you feel SOMETHING!
Voice is…
•Person behind the words
•Reader
Writer
•Involvement
•Awareness of audience
•Individualistic
•Expressive
Who’s Voice is This?
8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite
thing!
12:00 pm – Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm – Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My
favorite thing!
11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite
thing!
Who’s Voice is This?
Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre
little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are
fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for
the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to
keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream
of escape. In an attempt to disgust them I once again vomit on the
carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their
feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly
demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a ‘good little hunter’ I am. There
was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight.
Who’s Voice is
This?
I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event.
However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that
my confinement was due to the power of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what
this means and how to use it to my advantage…
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of
my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must
try
this again tomorrow – but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that
the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives
special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be more
than willing to return. He is obviously an idiot. The bird has got to be
an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly.
I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have
arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe.
For now…
Home Page

Be certain to:
 Read each paragraph
carefully more than once to
see what makes this sample
essay a good one.
 Review actual graded NJ
ASK persuasive essays on
the class website.
 Note the scores and
understand WHY they
received them.
 Note the strengths
AND the weaknesses!!
Summer: 15 Days or 2 1/2 Months?
Student Example – INTRODUCTION paragraph
The final bell rings. It’s the last day of
school, and summer has finally come!
Students don’t have to think about school
for at least another 2 1/2 months. That is the
way it should always be. Schools should
Student’s continue using the traditional calendar and
Opinion
not a year-round schedule (position). There
are numerous downsides to year-round
schooling. It has no positive effects on
education (1), it adds to costs (2), and it
Student’s
disrupts the long-awaited summer vacation
3 reasons
OPINION + 3 REASONS =
(3).
THESIS STATEMENT
Paragraph 2 – Reason 1 = Student Example
Reason 1
Supporting
Detail 1
Supporting
Detail 2
Supporting
Detail 3
Contrary to the well-accepted belief, yearround schooling has no constructive impact on
education. (1) Most year-round schedules use the
45-15 method: 45 days of school followed by 15
days off. Because of this, there are many first and
last days of school. All those transitions disrupt
the learning process. Also, (2) there is no
evidence of higher test scores. Due to that, many
schools that change to year-round schedules end
up switching back. For example, (3) since 1980,
95 percent of schools that tried the year-round
schedule changed back to a traditional calendar.
It is obvious that changing to year-round
schooling does not help students; therefore, why
Get the reader thinking with a
is the change necessary?
thought-provoking question.
Paragraph 3 – Reason 2 - Student Example
Like any other facility, keeping a school open
requires a great deal of money. When a school
Reason 2 changes to a year-round schedule, the costs
skyrocket. (1) Keeping school open in the middle of
summer requires air conditioning, and that adds
Supporting significantly to the school’s expenses. The usual
Detail 1
utility bills grow because of the additional openschool time. Finally, (2) teachers must be paid for all
Supporting the weeks they are working. With all these factors,
Detail 2
the cost of keeping schools open becomes immensely
high. For example, (3) a high school in Arizona had a
cost increase of $157,000 when they switched to yearSupporting
round schooling. Some schools may not be able to
Detail 3
handle such increases, and other schools that can
handle these expenses could be doing better things
with the money. Is year-round school really where
the money should go?
Paragraph 4 – Reason 3 - Student Example
Reason 3
Supporting
Detail 1 & 2
Supporting
Detail 3 & 4
Get the reader
thinking with a
thoughtprovoking
question.
An important part of a child’s life is
summertime. With year-round schedules, students
would hardly have any time to relax. (1) During the 15day breaks, they would be thinking about their quick
return to school. (2) It would also be difficult to
coordinate family vacations with parents’ work
schedules. (3) Similarly, children would not be able to
go to most summer camps. (4) One expert, Dr. Peter
Scales, says, “The biggest plus of camp is that camps
help young people discover and explore their talents,
interests, and values. Most schools don’t satisfy all
these needs. Kids who have these kinds of [camp]
experiences end up being healthier and have fewer
problems.” Obviously, the summer is crucial to a
child’s learning and development. Why should this
invaluable part of a young person’s life be taken away?
Counterargument – Could be part of your 3rd Body
Paragraph (4th paragraph of your essay)
Student Example
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
But does this really make sense to everyone? (1) Teachers and
other education professionals spend a lot of time at the beginning
of the school year reviewing material from the previous year.
These days and weeks of “review” could be used more effectively if
the lessons continued to move forward , not backward. Also, By
having their children in school with short breaks in between
sessions, parents would not have to pay for additional, expensive
childcare. Even if (2) there are no classes taking place during
summer hours, the building is still being used, therefore utility
costs remain consistent throughout the year. (3) And finally, there
has been a significant increase in families staying home during the
summer months due to the downturn in the economy. Because of
this, travel and vacations have become practically nonexistent for
families with school age children. According to AAA, last year
alone, there was a 53% decrease in air travel.
Paragraph 5 – Conclusion - Student Example
Concluding
transition
phrase
As one can see, it is evident
that year-round schooling is not the
best option for the school calendar.
There is absolutely nothing wrong
with the traditional school year.
Why change something that works
so well? The final bell rings. Let’s
make sure this bell means that the
“real” summer vacation has come.
Home Page
In an episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Marie
writes a persuasive letter to the FBI interviewer whom
is interviewing Robert (her son)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cThuaPUD_Q&feature=PlayList&p=16B069ABF7
F24A36&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15
What is the issue
that Marie is
arguing to the FBI
boss?
What
reasons/examples
does she use in her
letter to persuade
the boss?
Persuasive Techniques…how to
convince your audience
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Facts (surprising)
Rhetorical Questioning
Examples
Statistics
Comparison/Analogies
Anecdotes
Repetition of Ideas
Quotations
Remember
FRESCA
for
refreshing
ways to
persuade
your
audience!
Real-Life Examples & Allusions in
Body Paragraphs
Allusion – Reference to something outside the text.
Including allusions in our writing can also enhance our essays.
Historical figures
A time period in history
Current event in the media
Literary character
Movie
Book
Poem
Song
Quote by another author
Real-Life Examples & Allusions
in Body Paragraphs
• It is also important that we try to include “real-life”
examples in our body paragraphs. Including reallife examples will enhance your writing.
• SAMPLE:
– Topic: Athlete's are overpaid.
– Real life example in body paragraph:
• I remember my thirteenth birthday party like it was yesterday.
It was a wonderful day until my father informed me that he
could not afford to purchase the tickets to the Giant’s game I
wanted so badly to attend. At first I became angry, but then I
realized that the tickets were over $200 each for average seats. I
then realized I could enjoy the game more with my family at
home and big bowl of popcorn.
Explain and refute the opposite view within your essay…
These newscasters argue that cell
phones SHOULDN’T be allowed in
schools. One newscaster tries to refute
or negate their argument, but she
doesn’t do a great job. What other
argument could you use to “negate the
opposition” (prove the other side
wrong).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTK
Z6jovfso
How would you
refute or negate
the two
newscasters’
opinion that cell
phones shouldn’t
be permitted in
schools?
Types of Arguments
• LOGOS (logic) means an argument based on reason.
• PATHOS (passion or emotions) is the use of
emotional arguments to get the audience to accept
one’s viewpoint. It is intended that the message
inspire followers.
• ETHOS (ethics or morals) is a moral or ethical
argument that appeals to the reader’s morals or
values; what the reader believes is morally or
ethically right. Aristotle called it the “moral
rightness” of an argument.
Rhetoric = The Art of Persuasion
The history of rhetoric and the concepts of
ethos, pathos and logos began in Greece.
Who was Aristotle?
Aristotle was a famous Greek
philosopher who studied the art of
persuasion.
Plato, another
famous Greek
philosopher, was
Aristotle taught Alexander the Great
his teacher.
how to properly argue and perform a
public speech.
Ethos, Logos and Pathos
In approximately 300 B.C.E. Aristotle, who was a
famous Greek philosopher, wrote a book entitled, “The Art
of Rhetoric.” In his book, Aristotle identified the three
methods of persuasion. He called them ethos, pathos and
logos.
Ethos = a MORAL argument
• The word "ethos" came from the Greek word “ethikos”
meaning moral or showing moral character.
• Aristotle contends (argues or says) that a speaker must
establish moral credibility in the minds of the audience at
the beginning of his or her speech.
• An “ethos” argument demonstrates a moral or ethical
argument that appeals to the reader’s morals or values;
what the reader believes is morally or ethically right.
For example, when a trusted doctor gives you
advice, you may not understand all of the
medical reasoning behind the advice, but you
nonetheless follow the directions because you
believe that the doctor knows what she/he is
talking about.
Pathos = an EMOTIONAL argument
• An effective use of “pathos” will alter the mindsets of the
audience through the use of emotional appeal.
• Appeals to pathos touch a nerve and compel people to
not only listen, but to also take the next step and act in
the world.
• Those who wish to persuade you will play with your
emotions. They may persuade you with fear, love,
patriotism, guilt, hate or joy.
Logos
Logos means logic
• Logos refers to any attempt to appeal to the
intellect OR, our brains.
• Logos appeals to the left side of the audience's
brain. The audience relies on reasoning and facts
to make its decision.
– Numbers, polls and statistics are also examples of the
persuasive use of logic.
REVIEW
Ethos, Pathos and Logos
1. ETHOS= an ethical or moral
argument
2. PATHOS= an emotional
argument
3. LOGOS= a logical argument
Logos (logic) means an
argument based on reason.
• Examples:
– “OnStar service inside your car is better than carrying a cell
phone because a cell phone can’t call for you when you’re
injured.”
– “There was no discernible difference in the ACT scores of
graduating seniors who wore school uniforms and those
who didn’t.”
– “We are the only company who will roll over and save your
unused phone minutes each month.”
– “Stand firm, parents. If you say ‘no’ at first and then give in
later, you are only teaching your children to beg, whine and
pester you.”
PATHOS (passion or emotions) is the use of emotional
arguments to get the audience to accept one’s viewpoint. It
is intended that the message inspire followers.
• Examples:
– A politician says that we have to fight the war “over”
there so that we don’t have to fight it here at home.
– A commercial offers to tell you what your friends won’t.
– A newspaper editorial for private-school vouchers states
that our public schools are dens of thieves and thugs.
– A high school runs an article about drinking and
driving with detailed descriptions and graphic pictures
of automobile crashes.
ETHOS (ethics or morals) is a moral or ethical argument that
appeals to the reader’s morals or values; what the reader
believes is morally or ethically right.
• Examples:
– “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you
can do for your country.” — John Fitzgerald Kennedy
– “I have a dream that my four little children will one day
live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color
of their skin but by the content of their character.” –
Martin Luther King Jr.
– “The way ahead is not easy. We shall need all the wisdom,
imagination, and courage we can muster. We must and
shall guarantee the civil rights of all our citizens.” – Harry
Truman addressing the NAACP
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