APPEAL NOTES

Methods of making an Argument

COMMUNICATION TRIANGLE

Message

writer reader

TRIANGLEE

very communication is essentially a trilateral relationship.  Each point of the triangle influences the others, and all are influenced by the context of the communication. 

Each point of the triangle bears some responsibility for the success of the communication.

Each point of the triangle corresponds with one of Aristotle's three appeals (i.e., general means of persuasion). 

Direct quote from http://www.public.asu.edu/~jvanasu/rhet-triangle.htm

ETHOSE

thos is based on one’s personal credentials. If a writer/speaker makes note of their degree or years of experience in a field, then they are using ethos. It can also be built by citing experts or quoting trusted sources.

Advantages: builds trust and can be done quickly.

Disadvantages: obvious and assumes people trust the credentials.

PROMPT 1

How can ethos be undermined?

How did Ms. Walters ask you to use ethos in the research paper?

PATHOST

his sort of appeal is based on emotion. If the speaker/writer is using highly charged diction, then they are using pathos.

Advantages: fastest form of appeal and can be subtle. Highly effective due to the power of emotion

Disadvantages: oversimplifies issues and can lead to a mob mentality.

PROMPT 2

Why is pathos the most effective, but most dangerous appeal?

LOGOSB

ased on using logical principles such as cause and effect.A

dvantages: Can win over an educated audience best for legal proceedings and scientific discoveries.

Disadvantages: slow and requires audience to pay attention and to be capable of following logic.

PROMPT 3

When is logos the best form of appeal?

COMMUNICATION TRIANGLElogos

ethos pathos

To Appeal to Logic (logos)

To Develop Ethos To Appeal to Emotion (pathos)

Theoretical, abstract  language Denotative meanings/reasons Literal and historical analogies Definitions Factual data and statistics Quotations Citations from experts and authorities Informed opinions

Language appropriate to audience and subject Restrained, sincere, fair minded presentation Appropriate level of vocabulary Correct grammar  

 

   

Vivid, concrete language Emotionally loaded language Connotative meanings Emotional examples Vivid descriptions Narratives of emotional events Emotional tone Figurative language

Effect Evokes a cognitive, rational response  

Demonstrates author's reliability, competence, and respect for the audience's ideas and values through reliable and appropriate use of support and general accuracy

Evokes an emotional response  

  These appeals are prevalent in almost all arguments.

Chart from https://web.archive.org/web/20070210090659/http://www.p ublic.asu.edu/~macalla/logosethospathos.html (link should be 1 line)

ACME GizmotronicsACME Gizmotronics• The company that you've trusted for over 100 years,

has recently entered a partnership with AmazonPrime*! Now you can purchase our fine products after reading reviews from satisfied customers. Our quality gizmos, widgets, and thingamabobs can be shipped to you or added to your wishlists.

• All come with the famous lifetime guarantee that makes Acme the company that the world depends on for its gizmo needs.

• Our spokesperson, Mr. Coyote says "I'm not really a coyote, but I play one on tv. I've used Acme products for years. Their slingshots, rocket launchers, crowbars, pogo sticks, and power pills are the best around. And don't forget their high-powered dynamite! I buy everything from Acme. They are the company that I trust the most."

Prompt 4 (ethos)Prompt 4 (ethos)

• How persuasive was this appeal?

Cesium Fuel CellsCesium Fuel Cells Cesium – second lowest melting point of all Cesium – second lowest melting point of all

metallic elements, but rapidly combines with metallic elements, but rapidly combines with oxygenoxygen

““Since it is easily ionized and has a high mass, Since it is easily ionized and has a high mass, cesium ions may one day be used as a cesium ions may one day be used as a propellant in ion engines on spacecraft.”propellant in ion engines on spacecraft.”

Cesium DataCesium Data Atomic Number:Atomic Number: 55 55 Atomic Weight:Atomic Weight: 132.9054519 132.9054519 Melting Point:Melting Point: 301.59 K (28.44°C or 83.19°F) 301.59 K (28.44°C or 83.19°F) Boiling Point:Boiling Point: 944 K (671°C or 1240°F) 944 K (671°C or 1240°F) Density:Density: 1.93 grams per cubic centimeter 1.93 grams per cubic centimeter Phase at Room Temperature:Phase at Room Temperature: Solid Solid Element Classification:Element Classification: Metal Metal Period Number:Period Number: 6     6    Group Number:Group Number: 1     1    Group Name:Group Name: Alkali Metal Alkali Metal What's in a name?What's in a name? From the Latin word for sky blue, From the Latin word for sky blue, caesiuscaesius.. Discovery: Discovery: 1860 by 1860 by Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and Gustav Robert Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and Gustav Robert

Kirchhoff.Kirchhoff. http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele055.html

Cesium Fuel CellsCesium Fuel Cells DataCenterKnowledge, DataCenterKnowledge, a leading online source of news about

mission-critical high density computing, reports: , reports: ““[There is] a 400kW installation on Google’s main [There is] a 400kW installation on Google’s main

campus. Over the first 18 months the project has campus. Over the first 18 months the project has had 98% availability and delivered 3.8 million had 98% availability and delivered 3.8 million kWh of electricity.”kWh of electricity.”

““The machine produces electricity, as well as The machine produces electricity, as well as some heat, carbon dioxide and water.”some heat, carbon dioxide and water.”

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/02/22/google-using-bloom-box-http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/02/22/google-using-bloom-box-but-not-in-data-center/but-not-in-data-center/

Cesium-Hydroxide Cesium-Hydroxide TechnologyTechnology

By combining cesium and dihydro-oxide in By combining cesium and dihydro-oxide in laboratory conditions, and capturing the laboratory conditions, and capturing the released energy, ACME has promised to lead released energy, ACME has promised to lead the way into the future. Our energy source is the way into the future. Our energy source is clean, safe, and powerful. No pollutants are clean, safe, and powerful. No pollutants are released into the atmosphere. The world will released into the atmosphere. The world will soon have an excellent source of clean energy. soon have an excellent source of clean energy. (assume next five slides have concrete lab data to support these (assume next five slides have concrete lab data to support these statements)statements)

Renewable Cesium Fuel Renewable Cesium Fuel CellsCells

Facts about cesium and quote re: spacecraft Facts about cesium and quote re: spacecraft from from http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele055.html

Quote about a DIFFERENT energy source Quote about a DIFFERENT energy source (Bloom Boxes) being used at Google from (Bloom Boxes) being used at Google from

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/02/22/google-using-bloom-box-but-not-in-data-center/

Prompt 5 (logos)Prompt 5 (logos) How persuasive was this appeal?How persuasive was this appeal?

CESIUM-BASED REACTOR CESIUM-BASED REACTOR KILLSKILLS!!• A baby turtle breaks free from the leathery shell of A baby turtle breaks free from the leathery shell of

its egg, catching its first glimpse of its first sunrise. its egg, catching its first glimpse of its first sunrise. It pauses a moment to rest, unaware of the danger It pauses a moment to rest, unaware of the danger that lies so close to it. As the tide comes in, that lies so close to it. As the tide comes in, approaching the nest, it also approaches a small approaching the nest, it also approaches a small pile of metal - cesium. The water draws closer and pile of metal - cesium. The water draws closer and closer, the turtle unsuspecting of the danger. closer, the turtle unsuspecting of the danger. Finally, the water touches the cesium. The nest is Finally, the water touches the cesium. The nest is torn to bits in the resulting explosion, destroying torn to bits in the resulting explosion, destroying even more of an endangered species. even more of an endangered species.

• Why does this happen? One name: Why does this happen? One name: AcmeAcme..

Prompt 5 (Prompt 5 (pathospathos))• How persuasive was this appeal?How persuasive was this appeal?

PRACTICEP

ick a product your team would like to sell.C

ome up with an advertising slogan using Ethos.• Share with class.

Come up with an advertising slogan using Pathos.

• Share with class.

Come up with an advertising slogan using Logos.

• Share with class.

THANKS

Many thanks to http://www.mesacc.edu/~bruwn09481/Syllabi/documents/htm/ArtRetoric/index.htm , the source of the Acme examples (which adapted their site from a student project)