After reading my own writing and performing the ethos/pathos/logos analysis, I saw how If I had not used it, my writing would’ve been very in effective. Re-readng my own wording again made me notice a lot of changes I could have made. Using these methods to write would really improve my writing and allow me to be more detailed than I am right now. Using ethos/pathos/logos make persuasive writing far more balanced and adequate. Using the rhetorical method of analysis, I distinguished a lot of things I could have done differently to make my writing more conniving and proper. The Toulmin method is a great method to write clear and efficiently. Both of these methods can help me improve as a writer. The more clear I can write out my thoughts, the more higher quality my writing will be. These methods, were enhancing my writing as I was analyzing my own writing from last year in high school. If I were to use these methods instead of the way I wrote, I would have an exceptional piece of writing.
Day: September 18, 2017
Blog Post #1: Rhetorical Analysis of Content and Form
In this reading “Content and Form”, the author is talking about the difference in how things are said, and what things are said. He says that there is a difference between the both of them and goes on to talk about how they differentiate. The author references Aristotle and Quintilian to support his claim. Aristotle’s logos and lexis definitions support his claim about what is Sid, and how it is communicated. Furthermore, Quintilian shows the difference between res and verba. The author talks about how language is more than just delivering a thought, it affects the thought process.
There doesn’t seem to be much rebuttal here, as far as I can tell. When he says that the division between what is said and how It is said is problematic, I would consider that a rebuttal because he compares that to religion, philosophy, and science and makes a comparison to that.
I think the Toulmin method isn’t very affective to me. In my opinions, it doesn’t do anything better for me, just another technique to analyze a reading and understand it.
Miscellaneous Writings
Ethos
- Ethos is a persuasive appeal based on ones character.
- For example, in order to persuade someone to make them believe that smoking is bad, you could quote a doctor or use someone that has researched smoking for years. Because they have more knowledge in the topic and are credible resources, it would be considered ethos when quoting the in writing.
- This appeal is successful because both parties have excessive knowledge in the area of smoking and its affects, therefore it would be more believable than someone on the bus saying smoking is bad.
- You mainly use ethos when trying to persuade someone to take your side.
Pathos
- Pathos appeals to emotion.
- For example, once I was buying makeup for my mom for mothers day and the cashier rung it up and I thought it was too expensive so I told her to take something out, the cashier made me feel bad and said my mom did so much for me and I ended up buying it and paying for everything.
- This appeal is successful because your emotions are very constant in your decision making.
- You can use pathos when emotions are taken into consideration when choosing sides.
Logos
- Logos is an appeal to logic and reasoning.
- For example, when trying to persuade someone which drink has more sugar: coke or pepsi, you would use statistics and logic to convince someone.
- This appeal is effective because it states facts and gives logical reasoning.
- Logos is normally used when giving statistics and giving true statements and facts. It is best used to convince someone giving true logical thinking and reasoning.