ETHOS
What does "ethos" appeal to in an argument?
Character/credibility.
What does "logos" appeal to in an argument?
Reasoning/logic/evidence.
What does "pathos" try to influence in an audience?
Emotions/feelings.
Replace the italicized word with a stronger vocabulary word: "The movie was very good." (Write one word.)
"excellent" , "outstanding," "superb".
Give one transition word that shows addition (one word).
"Furthermore" (or "also," "moreover").
Give one example of how a writer can establish ethos in a persuasive paragraph.
Examples: cite experience, show qualifications, use reliable tone, cite reputable sources.
Name two types of evidence commonly used to support logos (one-word answers each).
Statistic; expert testimony (or: data; research).
Give one example of a word or short phrase that appeals to pathos when arguing for animal shelters.
Example: "rescue," "alone," "suffering," or "hope" (any clear emotional word).
Substitute a single precise word for the phrase: "made less important."
"diminished" or "devalued."
Which transition word best signals a contrast between ideas: "because," "however," or "also"?
"however."
Read this claim: "As a teacher for 15 years, I know this method works." Is this ethos, pathos, or logos? Explain briefly.
Ethos (speaker’s credibility).
Which is stronger for logos: a statistic from a reputable study or an anecdote? Explain in one sentence.
A statistic from a reputable study. (It provides generalizable evidence.)
Why should a writer be careful when using pathos? Give one sentence.
Because overuse can manipulate or distract from facts, weakening credibility.
Replace this vague word with a more specific option: "many" (use one word appropriate for academic writing).
"numerous" or "several."
Insert an appropriate transition to complete this sentence in a persuasive essay: "We need later start times for teens. _____, research shows sleep improves attention."
"Moreover," "Additionally," or "Furthermore" (best: "Moreover, research shows...").
Identify the problem with this attempt at ethos: "Trust me — I'm right because I'm famous." (Name one weakness.)
Weakness: relies on fame rather than relevant expertise or evidence.
Read this reason: "Homework increases practice time; therefore, grades improve." What logical connection is being used (cause/effect, example, comparison, or authority)?
Cause/effect.
Provide a two-sentence persuasive hook that uses pathos to convince classmates to volunteer at a food drive.
Example: "Imagine a cold winter night with nowhere to sleep; your small time at one night’s food drive could warm someone's life. Join us this Saturday and make real change."
Choose the best substitute for "happy" in a formal persuasive tone (one word).
"delighted" (or "pleased," "joyful" depending on tone; for formal persuasive: "pleased" or "satisfied").
List two transition words or short phrases that signal cause and effect.
"Therefore" and "As a result" (or "consequently," "thus").
Provide a short two-sentence author statement that builds strong ethos for someone arguing that school uniforms improve focus.
Example: "I've spent a decade teaching middle school and tracking student focus; research-backed classroom routines I use raise on-task behavior. Because of this experience and evidence, I recommend a uniform policy to reduce distractions."
Write a concise logical claim + two pieces of evidence (each one short) supporting the claim: "Daily reading improves vocabulary."
Claim: "Daily reading improves vocabulary." Evidence 1: "A 2019 study found students who read 20 minutes daily learned 1,000+ new words per year." Evidence 2: "Exposure to varied texts introduces context clues that help word learning."
Identify an emotional fallacy in this statement: "If you don't donate, you'll be a bad person." Explain why it's problematic.
Emotional fallacy: uses guilt to force agreement; problematic because it attacks character instead of addressing reasons or evidence.
Read this sentence and replace the underlined informal phrase with a single formal word: "The study shows that this rule is a big deal." (Provide the rewritten sentence.)
Example rewrite: "The study demonstrates that this rule is significant."
Rewrite this two-sentence argument using a transition word to improve cohesion: "Students report less stress. Teachers notice higher participation." (Provide the single rewritten sentence.)
Rewritten: "Students report less stress; consequently, teachers notice higher participation."