The Rhetoric of the OP/ED Page

Three Ways to Persuade

What are we doing?

• In this unit we will read three texts to learn about the Aristotelian concepts of ethos, logos, and pathos.

• Our main reading will focus on an article with summaries presenting how animals are more like people than was previously believed.

• Upon completion of this unit, you will write a letter to the editor agreeing or disagreeing with the opinion expressed in an article.

Who is Aristotle?

•Over 2,000 years ago the Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that there were three basic ways to persuade an audience that you were right: ethos, logos, and pathos.

Aristotle 384-322 B.C.

Quotations from Aristotle

•Write down your favorite:

•“All virtue is summed up in dealing justly”.

•“Education is the best provision for the journey to old age”.

•“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it”.

Quickwrite

• On the same piece of paper where you wrote down your favorite quote from Aristotle, respond to the following:

• Think of a time you tried to persuade a parent, teacher, or friend to do or believe something. How did you do this? What did you do and or say? Did it work? Why or why not?

• You have 7 minutes.

Share your experience with your elbow Buddy

Okay, who heard of a new way that a classmate persuaded someone and would like to share that example with the class?

Now, get in your triad groups and discuss the following strategies. You will have 3 minutes to discuss each of the scenarios: 1. You want to borrow the car from

your parents.2. You want your parents to extend

your curfew time. 3. You want to stay out overnight on

prom night.

I’m sure you found that your methods of persuasion weren’t that different from the other students in your group.

Anyone want to admit to using the good, old-fashioned, “but everybody else’s parents lets them do it”?

In the past, how has it usually worked outfor you when you’ve attempted to get what you want?

Did you get what you wantedWould you be surprised to learn

that you used rhetorical methods to achieve your ends?

Would you like to learn more about persuasion so you may

be able to convince others without resorting to tears?

Let’s learn about the three methods of Persuasion.

Maybe they’ll work for you.

Ethos

• The writer’s character or image.

• The Greek word ethos is related to our word “ethics” or “ethical”, but a more accurate modern translation might be “image.”

• Aristotle says that if we believe that a speaker has good sense, good moral character, and goodwill, we are inclined to believe what that speaker says to us.

Logos

• Logical arguments.

• In our society, logic and rationality are highly valued, and this type of persuasive strategy is usually privileged over appeals to the character of the speaker or to the emotions of the audience.

Pathos

• The emotions of the audience.

• Most of us think that we make our decisions based on rational thought. However, Aristotle points out that emotions such as anger, pity, and fear (and their opposites) powerfully influence our rational judgments.

• Much of our political discourse and much of the advertising we experience is directed toward moving our emotions.

Now, Use Your handout

Let’s go over some of our new terminology to make sure we get these concepts.

Today we are going to discuss the three methods of persuasion.

Tomorrow we will need to use this knowledge and apply it to examples that I will bring in.

Write the definitions on your handout on the right hand side.

Get out your handout

So…ethos is

•Convincing by the character of the author.

logos is

•Persuading by the use of reasoning (Aristotle’s favorite method of persuasion).

Pathos is…

•Persuading by appealing to the reader’s emotions.

What is Rhetoric

• “ The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively”(www.thefreedictionary.com.rhetoric).

What rhetoric is not:

“Because I said so…”

“Is so, is not, is so, is not…”

Putting down the speaker rather than the ideas

Are most high school students accomplished in the area of rhetoric?

Would you like to become better at it?

To analyze

•1. To examine methodically by separating into parts and studying their interrelations.

•You analyze things all the time: in science, math, the real world.

Lets put rhetoric and analysis together.

•Rhetoric + analysis = rhetorical analysis

•To perform rhetorical analysis you would take apart (analyze) and evaluate the use of language/argument in the piece you are reading, hearing, or viewing.

Marketing

•The action or business of promoting and selling products or services. (merriam webster)

audience

•The person or group of people the presentation is geared toward. The viewers, readers, listeners.

Define the term “persuade”

• Quickly write down words that come to mind when you hear the word, “persuade”.

homework

• Tonight watch television,look through a magazine, or listen to the radio and come to class tomorrow with an example of a rhetorical appeal found in a commercial or advertisement. If it is print, bring it in with an explanation. If you saw or heard it, write a brief description and an explanation.

• We will be evaluating how advertisers use these appeals tomorrow.

If you’ve got any convincing to do…

• Wait until the end of this unit, you’re probably not as ready as you will be.