Which of the following statements is true about ethos?

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Introduction
Works Cited

Introduction

Aristotle defined rhetoric as “an ability, in each [particular] case, to see the available means of persuasion” (37). In other words, if you want to be persuasive you have to be both tactical and tactful. You have to find the method that works for your specific audience.

Aristotle also argued that there are three primary ways to make a persuasive appeal. He called these logos, ethos, and pathos. These three rhetorical appeals are at the heart of communication, and on this page we’ll explain how they work.

Ethos

Ethos is the appeal to the authority and reputation of the speaker or writer. Let’s say you want to know more about what it’s like to be a female CEO in corporate America. Would you trust a man to tell you? Or let’s say you want to read a compelling argument against the death penalty. Would you read an essay written by a serial killer on death row?

We want the author or speaker to have credibility. Unfortunately, establishing ethos is much more difficult for writers than for public speakers. If you’re giving a speech you can give plenty of visual cues that reveal who you are and why you should be believed. Your clothing, your gestures, your body language—all these things influence your audience. If you’re a general speaking to the press, those medals pinned to your chest will do a lot of persuading.

For a writer it’s more difficult to create a sense of ethos. One strategy is to draw attention directly to your credentials. Your book might have a bio on the dustjacket. You might also describe your experience in relation to the subject matter:

While doing post-doctoral research on the effects of marijuana on college students …

Having been forced to wear a school uniform myself, I can tell you …

However, a more subtle way to establish ethos is to let your writing style draw a portrait of your personality and character. Compare the following statements:

Photo radar is just a cash cow for the police. They say they care about people’s safety, but they just want your money.

While photo radar may be abused for monetary gain, it is an effective strategy for enforcing traffic regulations.

I understand why people dislike photo radar. They feel as if the police is spying on them, as if their constitutional right to privacy has been violated.

The first sounds like a rather opinionated person, the second seems like the voice of a police spokesperson, and the last one may come across as empathetic and understanding. We know nothing about the biography of these speakers, and yet we do get a strong sense of ethos.

So as you establish a sense of ethos in your writing, think about sentence structure and tone. Your writing style can make you seem fair-minded, thoughtful—cool even. It can also make you seem smug, affected, or obsessive. Present yourself in a way that inspires trust, and then your audience will believe almost anything you have to say.

Pathos

Pathos is the appeal to the emotions. Anytime your writing has an emotional impact you are dealing with pathos. Consider the following two statements:

I think we need to provide more mental health instruction.

I lost my daughter to suicide.

Which statement pulls at your heartstrings? The second one of course.

You can appeal to people’s emotions in many ways. You can make them cry, you can make jokes, you can show outrage. Even the most seemingly objective writing styles will contain some element of pathos. A science textbook, for instance, may instill feelings of awe and amazement at the beauty and complexity of the universe.

Don’t listen, then, to people who argue that all emotional arguments are truly pathetic. Pathos is a legitimate form of persuasion.

Logos

Logos is the appeal to logic. Anytime you build a case by presenting logical reasons (causal explanations, syllogisms, etc.), you are using logos.

Here are two examples of logos in action:

The rise in violent crime that lasted from the 1960s to the 1990s can be explained by higher levels of lead in the atmosphere. Since leaded gasoline has been phased out, crime levels have plummeted.

Cats should not be allowed to roam the neighbourhood. A study conducted in Lemmington, Michigan, showed that when cats were kept on a leash or indoors, the song bird population rose by 23%.

Not every attempt at logic will persuade. Sometimes the writer may be guilty of a logical fallacy. In other cases, the logic may be sound, but the reader may not trust the source (ethos) or may find the reasoning cold and heartless (a lack of pathos).

It’s always best, then, to think of all three rhetorical appeals as different pieces of the puzzle. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive strategies. Use them in any combination that fits the rhetorical situation.

Works Cited

Aristotle. On Rhetoric: A Theory of Civil Discourse. Translated by George A. Kennedy, Oxford UP, 2007.

Aristotle's "modes for persuasion" — otherwise known as rhetorical appeals — are known by the names ethos, pathos and logos. They are tools for persuading others to a particular point of view and are often used in writing and advertising to sway the audience.

Aristotle With Ethos, Pathos and Logos Definitions

Aristotle used these three terms to explain how rhetoric works:

Of the modes of persuasion furnished by the spoken word there are three kinds. The first kind depends on the personal character of the speaker [ethos]; the second on putting the audience into a certain frame of mind [pathos]; the third on the proof, or apparent proof, provided by the words of the speech itself [logos]. Persuasion is achieved by the speaker's personal character when the speech is so spoken as to make us think him credible.

Ethos is a means of convincing an audience using the authority or credibility of the persuader, whether it’s a notable or experienced figure in the field or a popular celebrity.

Pathos is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response to an impassioned plea or a convincing story.

Logos is a way of persuading an audience with reason, using facts, figures and rationale.

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Even understanding what ethos, pathos and logos mean, you may have trouble parsing them out. Ethics, emotion and logic are closely intertwined, not siloed off. How you feel affects what you think, and vice versa, and all of it can affect or be affected by your ethics.

Ethos in your speech or writing comes from sounding fair or demonstrating your expertise, education or pedigree. Examples of ethos include:

As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment will likely generate the best results.
My three decades of experience in public service, my tireless commitment to the people of this community, and my willingness to reach across the aisle and cooperate with the opposition make me the ideal candidate for your mayor.
If my years as a Marine taught me anything, it's that caution is the best policy in this sort of situation.
You know me — I've taught Sunday School at your church for years, babysat your children, and served as a playground director for many summers — so you know I can run your preschool.
Our expertise in roofing contracting is evidenced not only by our 50 years in the business and our staff of qualified technicians, but in the decades of satisfied customers who have come to expect nothing but the best.
He is a forensics and ballistics expert for the federal government — if anyone's qualified to determine the murder weapon, it's him.
Based on the dozens of archaeological expeditions I've made all over the world, I am confident that those potshards are Mesopotamian in origin.
If my age doesn't convince you that I know what I'm talking about, at least consider that I am your grandfather and I only want the best for you.
If you're still unsure, please consider that my advanced degree and fieldwork speak for themselves.

You can see examples of pathos in language that draws on your audience’s emotions:

If we don't move soon, we're all going to die! Can't you see how dangerous it would be to stay?
I'm not just invested in this community — I love every building, every business, every hard-working member of this town.
There's no price that can be placed on peace of mind. Our advanced security systems will protect the well-being of your family so that you can sleep soundly at night.
Where would we be without this tradition? Ever since our forefathers landed at Plymouth Rock, we've celebrated Thanksgiving without fail, making more than cherished recipes. We've made memories.
They've worked against everything we've worked so hard to build, and they don't care who gets hurt in the process. Make no mistake, they're the enemy, and they won't stop until we're all destroyed.
Don't be the last person on the block to have their lawn treated — you don't want to be the laughing stock of your community!
You should consider another route if you leave later. I heard that that street is far more dangerous and ominous at night than during the daytime.
You'll make the right decision because you have something that not many people do: You have heart.
After years of this type of disrespect from your boss, countless hours wasted, birthdays missed … it's time that you took a stand.
Better men than us have fought and died to preserve this great nation. Now is our turn to return the favor. For God and country, gentlemen!
You will never be satisfied in life if you don't seize this opportunity. Do you want to live the rest of your years yearning to know what would have happened if you just jumped when you had the chance?

Many audiences are more prone to turning to logic or practicality, which is where you might use logos. Using logos as an appeal means reasoning with your audience and providing them with facts, statistics, and logic or making historical and literal analogies:

The data is perfectly clear: This investment has consistently turned a profit year-over-year, even in spite of market declines in other areas.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: We have not only the fingerprints, the lack of an alibi, a clear motive, and an expressed desire to commit the robbery, but we also have video of the suspect breaking in. The case could not be more open and shut.
It's a matter of common sense that people deserve to be treated equally. The Constitution calls it “self-evident.” Why, then, should I have been denied a seat because of my disability?
More than one hundred peer-reviewed studies have been conducted over the past decade, and none of them suggests that this is an effective treatment for hair loss.
History has shown time and again that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Private demand for the product has tapered off for the past three years, and this year's sales figures are at an all-time low. It's time to research other options.
The algorithms have been run in a thousand different ways, and the math continues to check out.
You won't find any deer along this road. In 25 years of driving the same route, I haven't seen a single one.
He has a track record of success with this company, culminating in some of our most acclaimed architecture to date and earning us Firm of the Year nine times in a row.
Research compiled by analysts from NASA, as well as organizations from five other nations with space programs, suggests that a moon colony is viable with international support.
Veterinarians say that German shepherds are the perfect match for people with active lifestyles.
Doctors all over the world recommend this type of treatment.

Staff Writer

Examples of Ethos
When creating an argument, you've probably heard the word ethos. But what exactly is ethos? It is the ethical perspective and authority you put into your work. Explore ethos examples in literature, movies and speeches to better understand the concept.
Examples of Logos
When you think of logos, think of "logic." In fact, logos is the Greek word for "reason" or "plan." Indeed, logic goes hand-in-hand with reason. Why does this matter? Well, logos is one of three main methods of argumentation put forth by ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Get a clear definition of what logos is through logos examples.