Communication and Persuasion: Understanding Logos, Pathos, and Ethos - Prof. Julia Jackson, Study notes of English Language

Download Communication and Persuasion: Understanding Logos, Pathos, and Ethos - Prof. Julia Jackson and more Study notes English Language in PDF only on Docsity! Chapter 1 Outline- Communication and Persuasion: Logos, Pathos, Ethos 1) Noticing and Thinking a) Pay more attention to writing, not finishing b) Buddha example- pay attention to something positive c) Process of Thinking i) Hallmark of critical thinking- realizing viewpoints and ideas not considered before ii) Notice, explore, discover, test d) Eurekas e) The Paradigm Shift i) Major eureka ii) Stephen Covey defines as “a theory, an explanation, or model of something else” iii) Constantly experience the process of thinking when writing (1) Topic choice, supporting evidence, organization, style 2) Communicating Clearly and Effectively a) Writing is persuasive b) Use “sensory language” c) Specific Evidence i) Having a valid opinion is not for clear communication and persuasion ii) Must be supported with specific evidence: convincing reasons, examples, details iii) Makes thesis noticeable by use of details iv) Critical thinkers take time to support their ideas with details 3) Writing an Opinion Essay a) Defend beliefs and opinions with persuasive arguments b) Writing opinion essays allows you to think more deliberately than you would in a normal conversation c) Finding your subject i) Wonder what thing suggest or mean ii) When writing assignments for class look for real world applications (1) Write about something you honestly care about (2) Readers want truth, something new, something diverse, or something interesting, entertaining , or enlightening (3) Have evidence, better to have more than not enough 4) Writing Persuasively a) Persuasive writing attempts to move reader i) Appeal to mind, emotion, character b) A persuasive writer attempts to get readers to respond as the writer wishes c) You can’t make your readers accept a fact without proof or evidence d) Many people are suspicious that people are trying to manipulate them e) Ancient orators introduced emotions and morality into arguments, the philosophers insisted that students must be taught to use only logic and reason 5) The Persuasive Appeals a) Skillful writers appeal to their readers i) Logos applies to mind, Pathos applies to emotions, Ethos applies to Ethics b) Logos i) To appeal to readers mind, give reasons ii) Most powerful when deals with absolute or certain information but most of the time you only have probable evidence iii) Use if you want people to think about a problem iv) Critical thinkers pay attention to persuasive appeals v) Recognizing Logos (1) Logos is Greek for “divine words” (2) An appeal to logos is an appeal to reason c) Pathos i) Use to make people do something or stop doing something ii) Ancients discovered it could overthrow logic iii) People can be moved with emotional appeals iv) An easily abused appeal v) When using it make sure legitimate, appropriate, and used with restraint vi) Personal essays vii)Powerful tool to make audience receptive viii) If audience thinks you are manipulative it may backfire and question your ethics ix) Recognizing Pathos (1) Pathos is Greek for “suffering”, we derive sympathy from this word (2) Pathos words (see page 23) x) Humor as pathos (1) Pathos is not always sad (2) Touch hearts with laughter (3) Respect people (writers) who cause us delight d) Ethos i) Writers character ii) Voice- the sound of the writer’s personality you hear in their writing iii) Can be abused, writers can be confused as being moral when actually immoral or responsible when really irresponsible iv) Most important idea critical thinkers can consider v) Tells you whether writer shares your morality vi) Recognizing Ethos (1) Greek for “character”, we derive ethics from this word (2) Most people respect writers who have a strong moral character (3) Ethics words (see page 31) e) Thesis Statement i) The thesis is the statement of a writer’s opinion that shapes an argument