Core Concepts
Ethos
Appeal to credibility and character. Establishing the speaker's authority and trustworthiness.
Pathos
Appeal to emotion. Moving the audience through feelings.
Logos
Appeal to logic and reason. Using facts, data, and logical arguments.
Kairos
Appeal to timeliness and appropriateness. The right message at the right moment.
Rhetorical Triangle
The relationship between speaker (ethos), audience (pathos), and message (logos).
Worked Examples & Applications
MLK's "I Have a Dream": Ethos: "Five score years ago" invokes the Gettysburg Address, establishing historical authority. Pathos: "I have a dream" repeated 8 times creates emotional crescendo. Logos: "man's inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" uses logical reference to Declaration of Independence.
Aristotle's Rhetorical Triangle: Speaker → Message → Audience. Ethos: Speaker's credibility. Logos: Message's logic. Pathos: Audience's emotions. Effective persuasion requires all three.
Practice Questions
Q: What are the three modes of persuasion? A: Ethos (credibility), Pathos (emotion), and Logos (logic).
Q: What is kairos? A: The rhetorical appeal to timeliness — choosing the right moment and context for maximum persuasive impact.