Logos pathos ethos5/7/2023 This can be achieved with a provoking fact or statistic, a brief anecdote, or even an engaging metaphor or analogy. Writers use pathos at the beginning of academic pieces to hook their audience by igniting curiosity, evoking concern, drawing sympathy, getting a laugh, or simply sparking interest. If the writer would like the reader to see the subject as a problem and something that requires immediate rebellion, the details and diction in the piece should elicit feelings of anger or concern rather than humor or joy. The emotions that the words and details in a piece evoke should align with the context of the paper and thesis. A writer should include relevant and specific examples to hold the reader’s attention and compel him or her to accept the thesis. For example, saying that obesity in America is a “problem” invokes different ideas than saying it’s an “epidemic.” Along these lines, details are also important. A writer must not only consider each word’s denotations, or literal meanings, but also each word’s connotations, or the ideas and feelings the word invokes. Word choice, or diction, is especially critical when a writer is attempting to appeal to an audience’s emotions. Balance is also important, as academic writing requires a solid base of logic and factual information to support the thesis, and pathos is what drives the reader to care about and remember that thesis. In academic writing, knowing the audience is particularly important a writer wouldn’t present information to a teacher or professor in the same way he or she would to a peer or even a parent. Without a level of emotional appeal, academic writing, no matter how logical or credible, can be boring and ineffective. Writers use pathos in academic writing by giving their readers a personal reason to continue reading and to think, feel, and do what the writer intends. Pathos is developed with meaningful language, a compelling tone, emotion-evoking examples, inspiring stories, and/or implied meanings.Īs with the other appeals, it all comes down to purpose and audience, and the easiest way to reach an audience is to create an emotional connection. It all depends on the context of the argument and what the author or speaker would like his or her audience to feel and, ultimately, do. It’s important to keep in mind that “emotion” isn’t the same as “emotional,” and pathos doesn’t always have to draw highly-charged emotions understanding, curiosity, and calmness are all emotions and all ways a speaker or writer may use pathos to appeal to an audience. Pathos also includes positive emotions such as joy, excitement, or a sense of comradery. Another use of pathos would be to inspire anger from an audience, perhaps in order to prompt action. A common use of pathos would be to draw pity from an audience. Pathos is the Greek word for both “suffering” and “experience.” The words empathy and pathetic are derived from pathos. Pathos or the emotional appeal, means to persuade an audience by appealing to their emotions and personal interests.
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