CMNS 101 Fundamentals of Communication

Aristotle's three proofs, sometimes called the rhetorical appeals—ethos, pathos, and logos—are essential tools for writing any speech. In fact, they are one of the main ways of critiquing a speech, and because of that, you’ll need to consider the ways you can strengthen your logos, pathos, and ethos as you prepare to give a speech.

Ethos appeals to the speaker's credibility, pathos appeals to the audience's emotions, and logos appeals to logical reasoning. By integrating these elements into your speech outline, you create a balanced and compelling argument that resonates with your audience.

Here are some examples of ethos, logos, and pathos:

Ethos (the appeal of character)

Overall preparation and expertise/confidence

 Physical appearance

Speaking delivery and dynamism

Context provided by the situation

Logos (the appeal of reason)--Logical flow of the argument and speech structure

Sources and evidence that support the claims being made

Supports the informational needs of the audience

Pathos (the appeal of emotion)

The audience feels what the speaker intends

The audience’s preferences and beliefs

Correlation between the speaker’s demeanor and their intent for the audience

Here is an example of how this works in a persuasive speech:

Speech Topic - The Importance of Renewable Energy

Ethos

• Mention your experience or interest in environmental science or energy policy.
• Cite credible sources and experts who research or work in renewable energy.

Pathos

• Share a personal story about witnessing the effects of pollution or climate change.
• Use vivid imagery to describe the beauty of natural landscapes that renewable energy can help preserve.

Logos

• Present statistics on the environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy.
• Use logical arguments to explain how renewable energy reduces carbon emissions and creates job opportunities.