How to Win an Argument:How to Win an Argument:Ethos, Pathos, LogosEthos, Pathos, Logos

Snell: Debate ISnell: Debate I

What is Rhetoric?What is Rhetoric?

Rhetoric (n) -Rhetoric (n) - the art of speaking or writing the art of speaking or writing effectively (Webster's Definition). effectively (Webster's Definition). – According to Aristotle, rhetoric is "the ability, in According to Aristotle, rhetoric is "the ability, in

each particular case, to see the available each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion." He described three main means of persuasion." He described three main forms of rhetoric: forms of rhetoric: Ethos, Logos, and PathosEthos, Logos, and Pathos..

In order to be a more effective debater, you must understand these three In order to be a more effective debater, you must understand these three

terms. You will better understand their meanings which will make your terms. You will better understand their meanings which will make your speaking more persuasive. speaking more persuasive.

Three Forms of Rhetoric…Three Forms of Rhetoric…

EthosEthos LogosLogos PathosPathos

Ethos (Credibility)Ethos (Credibility)

Ethos is all about credibility. We believe people Ethos is all about credibility. We believe people we respect have behaved ethically. we respect have behaved ethically.

We tend to believe people whom we respect.We tend to believe people whom we respect. Credibility of SelfCredibility of Self Credibility of Source Credibility of Source

Ethos Example:Ethos Example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf7MT1p1VNI&safe=active

How does Cher

build or lose her

credibility in this

debate?

https://www.youtube.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxUZI0vE0FMwatch?v=hxUZI0vE0FM

Watch this television ad from 1949.Watch this television ad from 1949.

How do the ad’s creators appeal to ethos for How do the ad’s creators appeal to ethos for their audience in 1949?their audience in 1949?

How do we view this ad differently in 2014?How do we view this ad differently in 2014?

Logos (Logical)Logos (Logical)

Logos:Logos: the logic used to support a claim; the logic used to support a claim; the the factsfacts and and statisticsstatistics used to help support used to help support the argument. the argument.

– Persuading by the use of reasoning.Persuading by the use of reasoning.– An effective and persuasive reason that An effective and persuasive reason that

supports your ideas. supports your ideas.

Logos Example: Logos Example:

Idea: Students should be allowed to use cell Idea: Students should be allowed to use cell phones during school hours.phones during school hours.– – –

List three supporting facts and/or statistics that List three supporting facts and/or statistics that will support the aforementioned idea.will support the aforementioned idea.

Logos Example:Logos Example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWACpDlqK3s

What strategies do the rhetoricians use to appeal to What strategies do the rhetoricians use to appeal to logos?logos?

How do visual elements of the video emphasize the How do visual elements of the video emphasize the use of logic?use of logic?

Pathos (Emotional)Pathos (Emotional)

Pathos: Pathos: persuading by appealing to the persuading by appealing to the audience’s emotions. Emotional appeals, audience’s emotions. Emotional appeals, are used to persuade. Language choice are used to persuade. Language choice affects the audience's emotional response, affects the audience's emotional response, and emotional appeal can effectively be and emotional appeal can effectively be used to enhance an argument. used to enhance an argument.

How? Anecdotal stories, loaded words, How? Anecdotal stories, loaded words, emotional statisticsemotional statistics

Pathos Example:Pathos Example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktGSct-_HH4&safe=active

How does Matthew

McConaughey’s

character appeal to

the audience’s emotions?

Isn’t debate just arguing? Isn’t debate just arguing?

ArgumentArgument, Def. 1, Def. 1: An emotional, verbal : An emotional, verbal fight in which people become angry, bitter, fight in which people become angry, bitter, or dissatisfied with the person they are or dissatisfied with the person they are having a “conversation.”having a “conversation.”

Isn’t debate just arguing? Isn’t debate just arguing?

ArgumentArgument, Def. 2, Def. 2: A stance taken in : A stance taken in support of an issue that can be supported, support of an issue that can be supported, verified, or upheld by others.verified, or upheld by others.

DebateDebate: Process of two or more people : Process of two or more people reaching a consensus. Both parties must reaching a consensus. Both parties must come to a mutual agreement. come to a mutual agreement.

Resolution AnalysisResolution Analysis

Whereas “junk food” is detrimental to the Whereas “junk food” is detrimental to the health of students, and Whereas, “sugar health of students, and Whereas, “sugar highs” cause students to lose focus in the highs” cause students to lose focus in the classroom, and whereas, it is the duty of the classroom, and whereas, it is the duty of the schools to educate students in all facets of schools to educate students in all facets of life, be it resolved that the sale of all junk life, be it resolved that the sale of all junk food on school property shall be prohibited.food on school property shall be prohibited.

Resolution AnalysisResolution Analysis

Whereas a three month summer vacation is too Whereas a three month summer vacation is too long for students to retain information learned at long for students to retain information learned at school, and whereas many school districts have school, and whereas many school districts have already successfully adopted the Year Round already successfully adopted the Year Round format of alternate blocks of nine weeks of school format of alternate blocks of nine weeks of school followed by two weeks of vacation, be it resolved followed by two weeks of vacation, be it resolved that Minnesota, in order to better meet the that Minnesota, in order to better meet the academic needs of its students, should adopt a academic needs of its students, should adopt a uniform, statewide, year-round school yearuniform, statewide, year-round school year