Explain what Logos, Ethos and Pathos are and their relevance to being understood

Question

Explain what Logos, Ethos and Pathos are and their relevance to being understood. Also discuss their preferred order of use. Construct an example following this model.

Grading rubric (Highest quality answers will consider ALL of the following):
%u2022Define Logos, Ethos and Pathos
%u2022Discuss their preferred order of use (and why)
%u2022Discuss what is needed to "be understood"
%u2022Discuss impact of Logos, Ethos and Pathos on being understood
%u2022Example explaining how Logos, Ethos and Pathos impact the level of "being understood"

Explanation / Answer

Each of these is considered a mode of persuasion in the art of rhetoric used to make a work seem more valid.

Consider the root words:

Logos is derived from the latin word meaning "logic". As a mode of persuasion, it entails using reasoning to persuade a reader.

Pathos is derived from the latin word meaning "suffering" or "experience". It entails appealing to the emotional aspects of the reader. The idea here is to get sympathy or empathy in order to persuade a reader.

Ethos is derived from the latin word "character" which in english translates to "ethics". By using this mode of persuasion, the author establishes their own character as one to be respectable. By making yourself seem worth reading and building your own credibility, it is more plausible that someone will believe you.

As far as order goes, I believe it goes

1)Ethos, where the character of the author is built.

2) Pathos, where the author appeals to the audience by their sense of self identity.

3) Logos, where the author uses reason to attempt to support a position.

In order to be understood, it is important to consider the audience and by using rhetoric, of ethos, pathos and logos, to appeal to the authors credibility, logic and emotion, it is more likely that an audience will find the work more credible.

how ethos, logos and pathos help "being understood"

Ethos appeals by establishing the writer as a viable person who is capable of addressing the topic at hand. If an author does not use ethos, it may not be believable.

Pathos appeals to letting the reader know through communicating emotion or appeal. It might communicate as to why the topic is important to the author and why it matters.

Logos uses an argument of logic allows the reader to clearly see the line of how the argument is valid.

How they impact being understood:

The main goal of rhetoric is the ability of persuasion of the reader by the author. If an author does not properly appeal to these three modes of rhetoric, it is likely that the reader will find the author less believable. If only one mode is addressed, it may cut the credibility of the topic. It is important to maintain a balance of the three modes to appeal to a readers logic, emotion and character.

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