Aristotle's Rhetoric

1. Aristotle Rhetoric
Notes
Notes for Handout

2. What Is Rhetoric?
Rhetoric is language designed to have a
persuasive or impressive effect on its
audience, but often regarded as lacking
in sincerity or meaningful content.
Rhetorical is simply the adjective: concerned
with effect or style rather than content
or meaning

3. Chart

4. Logos
Logos
(logical/rational appeal)
Appeals to the logical reasoning ability of
readers
● Facts
● Case studies
● Statistics
● Experiments
● Logical reasoning
● Analogies
● Anecdotes
● Voices of authority

5. Pathos Pathos
(emotional appeal)
Appeals to beliefs and feelings
Higher emotions
● Belief in fairness
● Love
● Pity
Lower emotions
● Greed
● Lust
● Revenge

6. Ethos Ethos
(ethical appeal)
The sense the author gives as being competent/
fair/authoritative
● Trustworthiness
● Credibility
● Reliability
● Expert testimony
● Reliable sources
● Fairness

7. Other Notes
Author: Who is the persuasive speaker or author?
Audience: Who is the speaker or author attempting to persuade?
Content: What is the message? What is the speaker or author
attempting to persuade you to do?
Form: How is the message conveyed? What rhetorical technique is
the author or speaker using to help persuade you to do whatever
he/she wants you to do?
Bias: Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group
compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.