1.2 Ethos, Pathos & Logos

Three appeals

Aristotle named three rhetorical appeals: ethos (credibility and character), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic and evidence). Persuasive writers usually blend all three.

Ethos

Ethos builds trust: a writer establishes authority, shared values, fairness, or expertise so the audience believes them. Citing credentials or acknowledging the other side both build ethos.

Pathos and logos

Pathos moves the audience through emotion — vivid stories, charged language. Logos convinces through reasoning — data, examples, and logical structure. Overusing one at the expense of others can weaken an argument.

Key terms

Ethos

The appeal to a writer's credibility and character.

Pathos

The appeal to the audience's emotions.

Logos

The appeal to logic, reasoning, and evidence.

Aristotle

Classical source of the three rhetorical appeals.

Balanced rhetoric

Persuasion that blends ethos, pathos, and logos.

Try an AP-style question

Which appeal is this sentence mainly using?

1. Ethos
2. Kairos
3. Logos
4. Pathos only