Ethos, pathos, logos

English

Definition

The three modes of persuasion identified by Aristotle. Ethos appeals to the speaker's credibility or character, pathos appeals to the audience's emotions, and logos appeals to logic and reason through evidence and structured arguments.

Examples

  • Ethos: 'As a doctor with 20 years of experience, I recommend this treatment.'
  • Pathos: 'Imagine a child going to bed hungry every night in your own neighborhood.'
  • Logos: 'Studies show that students who read 20 minutes daily score 90% higher on vocabulary tests.'
Key Fact

Ethos = credibility, Pathos = emotion, Logos = logic.

Related Terms

Rhetorical strategies Rhetorical devices Persuasive techniques Evidence and reasoning

Study This Concept

Practice ethos, pathos, logos with free review games in these units:

AP English Language Unit 1: Rhetorical Analysis English 10 Unit 4: Rhetoric and Persuasion