IXL | Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in persuasive writing

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that high schools should teach basic financial literacy?

The level of financial illiteracy in the United States is frighteningly high: many Americans have little to no savings, are knee-deep in debt, and live paycheck to paycheck.

Certified public accountant Adam Alexander notes that students who are not taught how to manage credit cards often end up overspending.

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question

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that celebrities should stay out of politics?

As very few celebrities have any political experience at all, their involvement in politics can be a narcissistic farce, turning the focus on their public personas rather than the real issues at hand.

As an elected official who has spent her entire career studying the issues, I am disconcerted by the fact that celebrities can garner support for their political beliefs merely because of their name recognition.

key idea

The purpose of many writing tasks is to persuade readers. To accomplish this purpose, writers use persuasive strategies, or appeals. These appeals can be divided into three categories:

Appeals to ethos, or character, emphasize trustworthiness, credibility, or values shared with the audience. A writer can do this by

mentioning personal or professional credentials;
drawing on the established reputation of a person, institution, or brand;
establishing common ground with the audience.

Appeals to logos, or reason, use logic or verifiable data. A writer can do this by

citing relevant and credible statistics, facts, or studies;
explaining the logical chain of reasoning that supports a claim;
anticipating and refuting potential counterclaims.

Appeals to pathos, or emotion, attempt to activate the audience's emotions. A writer can do this by

citing dramatic stories about specific individuals;
appealing to emotions such as fear, guilt, anger, pity, or desire;
choosing words with strong connotations;
using descriptive language to create powerful images.

solution

The first statement is the correct answer. It appeals to pathos, or emotion, by evoking anger in the audience (their involvement in politics can be a narcissistic farce).

The second statement appeals to ethos, or character, by mentioning a professional credential (As an elected official).

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M.1Identify appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in advertisements

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