Modes of persuasion

Ethos (plural: ethea) is an appeal to the authority or credibility of the presenter. It is how well the presenter convinces the audience that the presenter is qualified to speak on the subject. This can be done by:

• Being a notable figure in the field in question, such as a college professor or an executive of a company whose business is related to the presenter's topic
• Demonstrating mastery of the terminology of the field
• Being introduced by or producing bona fides from other established authorities

Pathos (plural: pathea) is an appeal to the audience's emotions. The terms sympathy, pathetic, and empathy are derived from it. It can be in the form of metaphor, simile, a passionate delivery, or even a simple claim that a matter is unjust. Pathos can be particularly powerful if used well, but most speeches do not solely rely on pathos. Pathos is most effective when the author or speaker demonstrates agreement with an underlying value of the reader or listener.

In addition, the speaker may use pathos and fear to sway the audience. Pathos may also include appeals to audience imagination and hopes; done when the speaker paints a scenario of positive future results of following the course of action proposed.

In some cases, downplaying the ethos can be done while emphasizing pathos, for example as William Jennings Bryan did in his Cross of Gold speech:

I would be presumptuous, indeed, to present myself against the distinguished gentlemen to whom you have listened if this were but a measuring of ability; but this is not a contest among persons. The humblest citizen in all the land when clad in the armor of a righteous cause is stronger than all the whole hosts of error that they can bring. I come to speak to you in defense of a cause as holy as the cause of liberty—the cause of humanity.

— William Jennings Bryan[2]

Logos (plural: logoi) is logical appeal or the simulation of it, and the term logic is derived from it. It is normally used to describe facts and figures that support the speaker's claims or thesis. Having a logos appeal also enhances ethos because information makes the speaker look knowledgeable and prepared to his or her audience. However, the data can be confusing and thus confuse the audience. Logos can also be misleading or inaccurate, however meaningful it may seem to the subject at hand. In some cases, inaccurate, falsified, or miscontextualized data can even be used to enact a pathos effect. Such is the case with casualty numbers, which, while not necessarily falsified, may include minor casualties (injuries) that are equated with deaths in the mind of an audience and therefore can evoke the same effect as a death toll.

This is the time and place. An orator uses this to their advantage to persuade the audience to act now at the time being. Most commonly, it is used to create pressure, such as sales and discounts.[3]

These rhetorical strategies are often used in political thought, speeches, newspaper articles and even in marketing. In a given text (or speech), a variety of devices may be used in concert in order to better persuade audiences.[4]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Persuasion techniques.

• Aristotle's Rhetoric (translated work)
• Silva Rhetoricae: Forest of Rhetoric (general article)
• European Rhetoric (general article)
• Ethos, Logos and Pathos Examples (Examples of Ethos, Logos and Pathos)