MYP English Lang & Lit Topic Rhetorical Appeals…

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What Are Rhetorical Appeals?

Definition

Rhetorical Appeals

Methods a speaker or writer uses to persuade an audience, commonly grouped into ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic).

When you analyze rhetorical appeals, you're asking:
1. Ethos: Why should I trust this speaker, writer, or brand?
2. Pathos: What emotions are they trying to trigger, and why?
3. Logos: What reasons or evidence are they using, and does it hold up?
Strong persuasive texts usually combine all three.

Example

A holiday brochure might create a dreamy mood (pathos), include "award-winning" claims (ethos), and offer a price breakdown or itinerary (logos).
A speech might use moral credibility (ethos), vivid imagery (pathos), and arguments about cause and effect (logos).

Note

Rhetorical appeals are not "tricks" that only dishonest people use.
They're normal features of communication.
The key is whether they are used responsibly (to clarify and support) or manipulatively (to pressure or mislead).

How Can Ethos Build Trust And Authority?

Definition

Ethos

A persuasive appeal that builds credibility and trust, for example by showing expertise, authority, or shared values.

Ethos answers the audience's silent question: "Why should I believe you?"
A text can build ethos by presenting the speaker as reliable, knowledgeable, fair, or morally trustworthy.

Common ways texts create ethos

Ethos can be built through:
1. Expertise (qualifications, experience, professional roles)
2. Reputation (awards, testimonials, endorsements)
3. Confidence and control in tone (clear, measured language)
4. Fair-mindedness (acknowledging complexity, addressing counterarguments)
5. Shared values (showing the speaker is "one of us")
In persuasive writing, ethos is often created even when it is not directly stated.

Example

A text may sound "objective" by using formal vocabulary, careful structure, or selective statistics.
That appearance of neutrality can itself be persuasive.

Ethos and bias

Bias isn't always obvious.
Some texts hide bias by presenting one viewpoint as if it is simply common sense.
If a writer avoids showing uncertainty, or ignores alternative perspectives, the text may gain ethos with some audiences, but at the cost of fairness.

Exam technique

When writing an analysis paragraph on ethos, name the technique and explain its effect:
- What creates credibility? (tone, expertise, confident claims, fairness)
- How does this influence the audience's willingness to accept the message?
- Is the credibility earned (evidence) or performed (style only)?

How Does Pathos Shape Feelings To Shape Decisions?

Definition

Pathos

A persuasive appeal that influences an audience through emotion, such as fear, hope, guilt, pride, or desire.

Pathos works because people rarely make decisions using logic alone.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

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Note

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MYP English Lang & Lit Rhetorical Appeals Notes

What Are Rhetorical Appeals?

How Can Ethos Build Trust And Authority?

Common ways texts create ethos

Ethos and bias

How Does Pathos Shape Feelings To Shape Decisions?

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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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What Are Rhetorical Appeals?

How Can Ethos Build Trust And Authority?

Common ways texts create ethos

Ethos and bias

How Does Pathos Shape Feelings To Shape Decisions?

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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Characterization and Human Behaviour5 subtopics

Dramatic Writing and Performance Techniques 4 subtopics

Narrative Perspective and Voice4 subtopics

Poetic Form and Expressive Techniques4 subtopics

Short Story Structure and Theme4 subtopics

Critical Reading and Media Interpretation4 subtopics

Travel Writing and Descriptive Craft3 subtopics

Ethical Reasoning in Texts3 subtopics

Argumentation and Persuasive Writing4 subtopics

Relationships and Interpersonal Themes3 subtopics

Duality, Conflict and Symbolism2 subtopics

Responsibility, Agency and Theme Development4 subtopics

MYP English Lang & Lit Rhetorical Appeals Notes

Characterization and Human Behaviour5 subtopics

Dramatic Writing and Performance Techniques 4 subtopics

Narrative Perspective and Voice4 subtopics

Poetic Form and Expressive Techniques4 subtopics

Short Story Structure and Theme4 subtopics

Critical Reading and Media Interpretation4 subtopics

Travel Writing and Descriptive Craft3 subtopics

Ethical Reasoning in Texts3 subtopics

Argumentation and Persuasive Writing4 subtopics

Relationships and Interpersonal Themes3 subtopics

Duality, Conflict and Symbolism2 subtopics

Responsibility, Agency and Theme Development4 subtopics

What Are Rhetorical Appeals?

How Can Ethos Build Trust And Authority?

Common ways texts create ethos

Ethos and bias

How Does Pathos Shape Feelings To Shape Decisions?

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

What Are Rhetorical Appeals?

How Can Ethos Build Trust And Authority?

Common ways texts create ethos

Ethos and bias

How Does Pathos Shape Feelings To Shape Decisions?

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account