{"id":7853,"date":"2013-09-06T23:25:49","date_gmt":"2013-09-06T23:25:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=7853"},"modified":"2026-03-26T09:32:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T14:32:52","slug":"rhetorical-strategy-of-persuasion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/rhetorical-strategy-of-persuasion\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Rhetorical Strategies for Persuasion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_vgph4RxiBhk\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_vgph4RxiBhk\" data-source-videoID=\"vgph4RxiBhk\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Using Rhetorical Strategies for Persuasion Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Using Rhetorical Strategies for Persuasion\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_vgph4RxiBhk:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_vgph4RxiBhk {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/updated-using-rhetorical-strategies-for-persuasion-64c015db0d401-3.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_vgph4RxiBhk\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_vgph4RxiBhk\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Using Rhetorical Strategies for Persuasion\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_vgph4RxiBhk\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_vgph4RxiBhk\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_vgph4RxiBhk\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction VEr_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"VEr\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"VEr_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"VEr\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Ethos\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Ethos<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Pathos\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Pathos<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Logos\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Logos<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>The art of persuasion has long been studied by philosophers and scholars of rhetoric alike. <\/p>\n<p>The most notable of these academics was Aristotle, the philosopher who devised three strategies of \u201cproofs\u201d we use to persuade people. When we want to persuade someone of something, we learn of these three main traits to convince them that our perspective is the one they should consider \u2013 ethos, pathos and logos. Knowing how and when to use these three strategies can either make or break a persuasive argument. <\/p>\n<p>Today we will cover these strategies and their meanings, and touch on other rhetorical devices that can help writers persuade their readers effectively. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Ethos\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Ethos<\/h2>\n<p>First, let\u2019s talk about ethos. Ethos in the strategy of persuasion is all about credibility. When we want to be convinced of something, we typically feel more confident in the information we take in if it is coming from an expert or someone well versed in the subject.<br \/>\n The same goes for writing &#8211; if we are searching for information about ancient civilizations, are we more likely to believe the author if they are an experienced anthropologist, or if the author were a pastry chef?<br \/>\nUnless the pastry chef used to study anthropology in the past, a working anthropologist would be a more credible person to get this information from because of the years of studies they spent to become an expert in that field.<\/p>\n<p>Credibility can also refer to the text itself. If we are looking for a source about ancient civilizations, the best sources are those that have the most recent data. As we expand our knowledge and understanding, older information can become outdated and useless, which is why having the most updated studies ensures you are likely to have the most credible information. In writing, credibility isn\u2019t always reliant on the author being the most informed \u2013 it can refer to an author we think is the most trustworthy. The most trustworthy individual may not be the most educated or well-versed in a subject. <\/p>\n<p>Trustworthiness may simply boil down to \u201cis this person believable?\u201d. Charismatic- and confident-sounding people tend to be seen as trustworthy even if the information they share isn\u2019t accurate. <\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s why when we are being persuaded, we not only seek out educated people, but confident people that make us trust them, even though the information they are trying to convince us with may be wrong. Likewise, If the author of a text can assure us of their trustworthiness, whether they are experienced or educated in the subject they are speaking on or not, they are more likely to convince us of something than someone who we don\u2019t view as trustworthy. An author may use ethos by sharing testimonials or anecdotes that support their point. They may not have numerical data to share, but they may claim to have seen or heard many experiences in the past that support their notion. That, along with charismatic and hyperbolic language can convince readers that this person is confident and worth trusting.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Pathos\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Pathos<\/h2>\n<p>Some choices we make aren\u2019t based in logic; oftentimes our decisions are made based on how we feel about something. The second strategy in persuasion, pathos, refers to one\u2019s emotions. One way of convincing people of something is to speak to their emotions. <\/p>\n<p>For example, have you ever seen a commercial about small animals that are up for adoption? They may show the animals looking very sad \u2013 they may even say something like, \u201cPlease save these animals so they can experience love and a warm home\u201d. If you started to feel a little guilty or sad after seeing and hearing that, then the commercial used emotion to persuade you to adopt a pet. Pathos can stir your emotions to perform actions you otherwise would not feel compelled to do.<\/p>\n<p>Just like commercials and other mediums, pathos is used in writing with various rhetorical tools. The author may ask questions that ask you to reflect on your feelings about a scenario \u2013 otherwise known as rhetorical questions. \u201cWhat if this happened to you?\u201d, \u201cIsn\u2019t that a shame?\u201d or \u201cDoesn\u2019t that sound like fun?\u201d are all questions the author may ask, not because they are interested in your answer but because they are using language, which can be biased, to gently push your opinion in favor of their argument. <\/p>\n<p>Using pathos also requires knowing your audience \u2013 it\u2019s probably safe to say most people care about cute animals having a good home, but if you wanted to convince a niche audience about something, let\u2019s say, persuading accountants to use a new program, you will have to know more about them to know what they care about. <\/p>\n<p>You may have a hard time trying to appeal to their emotions if you just say, \u201cthe program is easier to use\u201d. With pathos you can explain, \u201cusing this program saves you more time, so you can finish your work faster and get home to your families quicker and spend more quality time with them.\u201d Or \u201ctax season is so tiring and stressful. It can be depressing to spend all day at your computer, not to mention all the daylight you miss. But this program helps you complete work quicker so you can relieve your mind of stress and enjoy the day\u201d. Here pathos is used to appeal to the audience\u2019s affection towards their families and describe the bleakness of the depression of being over worked to convince them that the new program is something they should use.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Logos\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Logos<\/h2>\n<p>The final strategy of persuasion, logos, refers to logic and using logic to persuade an audience. Logic can include not just data or statistics that support your point, but can also use comparisons and experiences to logically sway others to agree with your point of view. The most convincing arguments using logos are ones that show both sides of the situation and finally proves its point by refuting the counterargument. <\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at a scenario as an example:<br \/>\nWhat if you were searching for a new phone and the salesperson was trying to convince you to buy a different brand than what you were used to. The salesperson may say \u201cI know you\u2019re used to brand X and like how it is cheaper, however this new phone, Phone Y, doesn\u2019t have the issues your current phone has and will last longer \u2013 also, everyone loves this new phone, therefore you should try a new brand, Phone Y.\u201d Here, the salesperson uses logic to try to convince you to try a different phone by comparing it to your old phone, arguing that it is better quality and it will last longer. Both of these points refute the argument that phone X is better despite it being your favorite; it\u2019s an affordable but outdated phone. <\/p>\n<p>Logical arguments can also be identified through \u201cif, then, because\u201d statements. For example, if someone said \u201cif you don\u2019t leave earlier, you\u2019ll miss the bus and be late for work\u201d, they are trying to convince you to leave earlier to avoid the inevitable consequence of being late. The statement is logical because they explain the unfavorable outcome that will happen if you don\u2019t do as they say.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a lot to take in, so let\u2019s summarize what we\u2019ve talked about: There are three main strategies to persuade readers in your writing: Logos, ethos, and pathos. Logos uses logic, like data or comparisons to convince your audience; Ethos shares your credibility or trustworthiness with the reader; and pathos appeals to the readers\u2019 emotions and feelings.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks for watching, and happy studying!<\/p>\n<ul class=\"citelist\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/2012books.lardbucket.org\/books\/a-primer-on-communication-studies\/s11-04-persuasive-strategies.html\"target=\"_blank\">\u201cPersuasive Strategies.\u201d n.d. <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/reading-comprehension\/\">Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":186761,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-7853","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-reading-comprehension-videos","7":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7853"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":260947,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7853\/revisions\/260947"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/186761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}