The Importance Of Persuasive Devices Of Logos, Pathos And Ethos In Speeches

In 1960s Alabama there was a lot of civil unrest, especially in a city called Birmingham. Martin Luther King, Jr. was leading protests fighting for the equality of his people and eventually got arrested. This led to the letter called A Call For Unity, which is a statement by Alabama clergymen addressing the protests led by Dr. King. In this statement the clergymen wanted all the protests to end even though they were peaceful, saying that the protests at no point would solve anything and that all this should be solved in court. The clergymen even went as far to say that law enforcement handled them in a “calm manner” and that they should be allowed to keep protecting the city. They wanted the black and white community to work together in solving the issues through the courts. This letter from the clergymen led to a response from Dr. King that would be recorded forever in history. Dr. King wrote Letter from a Birmingham Jail in response to the clergymen, and to rile up the people. In this letter, Dr. King successfully claimed that he will not stop revolting until all black people have equal rights by effectively appealing to logos, pathos, and ethos.

Throughout history for things both perceived as good or bad, the same three persuasion techniques have always been used. Both Dr. King and his would-be silencers appealed to logos, pathos, and ethos in order to try and persuade their audience. Each of these devices are essential with each having a specific meaning such as: logos being an appeal to logic, pathos being an appeal to emotion, and ethos being an appeal to credibility. In A Call For Unity the clergymen appealed to the logical side of the audience in trying to make them go the non-agitative route in achieving equality for the races by the courts. In Letter from a Birmingham Jail even though Dr. King used appealed a lot to logos, he also appealed to pathos mostly to convince the audience towards following his movement for equality and passionately turned even the moderates over to his cause. This really shows how impacting using the three persuasive devices can be in anything whether it be calming down a movement or urging for an uprising.

A Call For Unity is a document where less radical clergymen are urging Dr. King to use more “lawful” strategies in seeking change, such as through the courts and not through protests. Their appeal to logos is even stated flat out in the quote “an appeal for law and order and common sense”, showing that they are trying to pacify the audience through logical reasoning. They also try to gain credibility by starting the letter introducing themselves as the clergymen, which appeals to ethos and tries to gain the trust of the audience through their position. The approach of the eight clergymen is mostly form a logical standpoint where they state facts and issues calling for “negotiation of racial issues”. By reading the letter it can be inferred that the purpose of this document is to end the so-called civil unrest being caused by Dr. King and his movement. The audience of this document are the followers of King and the body of the church. As shown by the effects of Dr. King’s letter, the clergymen had no success in their appeal.

In Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr. even degrades them a bit in appealing to logos like when he said that if he responded to “all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other”. This quote shows how much he dislikes their criticism by emphasizing how he does not address every concern, or else he would accomplish little. This shows how even in the sneakiest and most logical way Dr. King can show his discontent for the criticisms displayed by the clergymen. Dr. King always wanted to stand for equality in all states and he stated that he logically couldn’t “sit idly by in Atlanta”, because he stated that his purpose was to achieve equality for all the blacks no matter where in the nation. This went to him organizing more protests and doing anything to address the injustices in Birmingham. Dr. King even laid out his four steps in a nonviolent campaign in a very logical manner that showed the audience why he was right to address injustices and his process as mentioned in the letter. This all shows that besides pathos Dr. King mostly appealed to logos as well to convince the people that he is the voice of reason and is correct in the letter.

Dr. King’s letter is one of history’s best organized documents that appeals to every persuasive device. The letter starts with an emotional appeal to pathos by Dr. King saying, “while confined here in the Birmingham city jail” which expands on the circumstances which he was facing for defending his beliefs. This quote is an example of emotional appeal because, it creates a sense of sympathy from the audience towards Dr. King and all the hardships which he faced. Pathos was his second most appealed to rhetorical device in the letter and, one which he truly used to appeal to the people. It can even be said that Dr. King not only in the letter but in most of his speeches relied on pathos, something the clergymen did not use too much in their letter. Martin Luther King, Jr. goes on to end the letter in the most respectful and inspiring manner using a strong appeal to pathos saying, “one day the south will know that when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters, they were in reality standing up for what is best.” This quote truly shows his emotional appeal to the people by creating a sense of hope in the audience that the next generation will be treated as equal, and how he wanted true equal rights for blacks no matter if even the youth had to rebel.

Dr. King held the clergymen as his equals, and felt no shame is expressing it publicly and proving his credibility. One such appeal to ethos is when he portrayed the others as his “fellow clergymen”, showing that they are not above or below him being his equal colleagues. Dr. King used credibility not only to defend himself but, also to defend his people and showing that all are equal. Dr. King proved that he is a experienced leader and religious scholar when he said, “I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference”. He said this to show the people that he isn’t just a problematic protester, but a religious man who has led people throughout his life and is on a holy mission to gain equality for his people truly showing ethos. Throughout the whole letter he appeals to ethos less than the other two rhetorical devices but, he appeals to it just enough that overall he is justified and a credible person who can be followed with an effective message.

In conclusion, to deliver a message in the most effective way it is necessary to use the three persuasive devices. A Call For Unity uses these devices for pure logical persuasion; Letter from a Birmingham Jail uses these devices in an emotional response stating why these acts are necessary and urging a call to action to resolve the injustices. It can be seen that even though Dr. King and the clergymen have different ways to reach their goal, they use the same exact devices to convince the audience. Dr. King’s response to the clergymen turned out to be a historical event that set the precedent for major political activists to use the three devices, and this shows how important logos, pathos, and ethos are in our society. His appeal to logos showed the audience how logical and strategized he is in executing his plans for change, this makes the audience trust Dr. King in a great way. Dr. King appealed to pathos in such a way that inspired great want to make a change from the audience, this is a very successful strategy that can be used by any changemaker who wishes to reach his audience in one of the best ways. Finally, ethos is very important because if one does not establish credibility, then they can lose support very quickly and Dr. King avoided this effectively by establishing himself early in Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Martin Luther King, Jr. has set a clear example that rhetorical devices are essential in the argument of any changemaker that wants to be effective.

Balance Of Logos, Pathos And Ethos In Medea

In Euripides’ play Medea, the audience witnesses the ongoing conflict between acting out of reason and of passion, both of which can result in destructive ends. The main protagonist Medea embodies an extremely vengeful and strong-willed character, whose extreme passion often overrides reason and results in irrational behaviour. However, at times, Medea is able to act in control of her actions as seen when it comes to manipulating others and is therefore also capable of putting her emotions aside. In contrast, we are also introduced to the antagonist, Medea’s husband Jason, who despite his more rational mannerisms, is often susceptible to danger. Euripides presents his Athenian audience with the commonly held Aristotelian view that good character can only be achieved with equal balance of logos, pathos and ethos, and as the play unfolds, we are reminded of the constant battle between passion and reason.

Euripides instils Medea’s passion to be excessive and destructive, thereby her passion for vengeance and thirst for Jason’s revenge surpasses her rational thinking. Medea is portrayed as a woman who loves and hates with extremity. After her beloved husband Jason abandons her by leaving her for a “new bride,” Medea is left feeling betrayed and in a lamentable state, evident when she says, “the man who was the world to me […] has proved to be the foulest of traitors, my own husband!” The audience then sees her transformation from passionate love to passionate hate and rage, where she goes mad with the urgent need to punish her husband for the act of betrayal.

Through the extent she is willing to go in order to hurt Jason, her passion is overcoming her ability to reason and thus she acts on extreme hate and rage, as she declares, “where love once was, now a deeper cancer spreads.” Medea’s change from lament to rage emphasizes her misconduct in her plans of “making three corpses.” Medea further highlights the conflict between passion and reason after she states, “what a victim I am of my own self-will at last I see how my passion is stronger than my reason.” Here she advocates that her passionate feelings are so overpowering that she no longer has the ability to stop it, as her “passion is a master of [her] reason.” Euripides reiterates the extent this power of her passion holds after Medea commits the heinous crime of infanticide; thus, the drastic acts of revenge demonstrate the jeopardy of excessive passion. Medea implies that her decision to carry out such dire measures of revenge was made based on her passion rather than reason.

Ethos, Logos, And Pathos In Letter From Birmingham Jail

Martin Luther King’s “A Letter from Birmingham Jail” was written within the edges of a letter denoted by the Clergymen of Alabama without delay that started his advantage and keeping in mind that he occupied the cell for strutting around while not a license. This point allowable him the capability to react wholeheartedly to the current negative mistreating. King’s letter tends to specific focuses displayed within the Clergymen’s and this immediate reaction acknowledges King’s solid focuses through his unbelievable composition. Unscrupulous and indecent notices visited the thought of the Minister through the letter, and he communicated his variable views and guarded his goals and activities through Aristotle’s 3 expositive devices, ethos, logos, and pathos.

Above all else, King sets up his validity to start out off his solid barrier. Presenting himself as ‘The President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, associate degree association operating in every southern state, with central command in Atlanta, Georgia. , with cardinal related associations over the South, and one in every of them is that the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights’ (page 2). This certification not simply places King into an area of intensity nonetheless additionally demonstrates that he has seen enough of the south and also the problems within it to form a solid rivalry against his resistance. Another purpose that builds up this can be on page seven, wherever King states that he is seasoned the length and breadth of Alabama, Mississippi, and every one the opposite southern states. On hot summer days and crisp fall mornings”. This statement safeguards his credibleness any in lightweight of the actual fact that additionally to the actual fact that King traveled once through these states on varied occasions in numerous seasons, and far additional profound in numerous preliminaries which will are introduced. additionally, for the duration of the letter, King references the Bible, presidents, and journalists to create up his abreast of temperament, nonetheless to boot his energy for nobility and his position as a minister. the proper progression of his enthusiastic reaction to the Clergymen likewise introduces support for his insight and data owing to keeping a smart head and created punctuation whereas occupying a jail cell.

A large range of the King’s speak utilised that persuaded his validity to the gang likewise exhibited the explanation in his argument. in an exceedingly easy passage, he adequately demonstrates his purpose that ideology for associate degree applicable reason is not factor} to dishonor and ought not be viewed as a negative thing, “Was not Jesus Christ associate degree extremist for Love,Was not Amos and Extremist of justice, wasn’t Paul associate degree extremist for the Christian gospel, and Lincoln,and President Jefferson,The Question isn’t whether or not we are going to be extremists, however what reasonably extremists we are going to be”page 6). when fully fastening in varied persuasive figures ever, King at that time yield to scrutinize the rivalry of the Clergymen expressing that the exhibitions square measure responsible in Birmingham and not the social circumstance antecedently stewing. “Throughout Alabama all forms of devious ways square measure accustomed stop Negroes from changing into registered voters, and there square measure some counties during which,not one Negro is registered” (Page 4) This immediate assault on reality of Alabama during this time carries a harsher lightweight to what happens and what’s neglected to several. King at that time keeps on expressing that it absolutely was his “parading while not a permit” (Page . 4), that landed him in jail associate degreed keeping in mind that it’s entirely fine to own such an “ordinance,it becomes unjust once it’s accustomed maintain segregation and to deny voters the primary change privilege of peaceful assembly and protest”(Page 4). This immediate respect to the constitution of the u. s. and simply and unreasonable laws and laws demonstrates a solid purpose for King’s Rebuttal, that protects the equivalent rights development abundant any.

All through the section, within the wake of King tends to his accreditations and facilitates I through his learned and solid replies of explanation, his rivalry plays any into the conscious of his cluster of spectators through significantly place references and enthusiastic examples. One unbelievable case of King’s draw on the pursuer’s cognizance in his letter is on page 3 once he disproves the rivalry of the Clergymen voice communication that coloured people ought to merely ‘wait’. whereas varied words very stick out, King’s actual impact was replaced by the intrigue to the guardians within the gathering, “When you’ve got to concoct a solution for a five-year-old son UN agency is asking: “Daddy, why folks|White race|White people|Caucasoid race|Caucasian race|race} treat coloured people thus mean”(Page three. On the opposite hand, “humiliation day in and outing by shrewish signs” (Page 3) and far any, once “you square measure forever fighting a degenerating sense of “nobodiness” ( Page 3). Another part that helps bolster King’s purpose in his letter is that the intense repetition of his barefaced frustration in additional than simply the clergymen, nonetheless their Christian confidence and also the holy places in administration within Alabama throughout this point. King rehashes however baffled he was within the ‘common whites’ to boot and their looker responses to racial problems. The method that this man, a priest, ‘underneath’ the aforesaid fanatic white pastors, and occupying a jail cell throughout that point, UN agency was enlightened in people indicated a real profundity that hit the cluster of spectators considerably.

These 3 parts to theologizer King’s letter helps it to be the most effective rivalry against the Clergymen’s rash and also the nonsensical flash of a letter. Since he looked to the requests and claims thus reasonably and countered with energy and clearness, King’s message was place crosswise over and he exhibited what he expected to place his purpose crosswise over and safeguard his activities and beliefs. the standard of this letter enabled associate degree clear voice to ideally amendment outlooks and basic misguided judgments within Birmingham, Alabama and did not change the anomalies of the Clergymen to cloud minds with wrong musings.

Logos, Pathos And Ethos In The Novel To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee it was one of the most widely read books in America since its publication in the 1960s. It was the story of good and evil. It highlighted the transition of Jem and Scout from the perspective of innocence. By the end of the story Jem and Scout lose their innocence from the lessons of their father Atticus Finch and the Tom Robinson case. To Kill A Mockingbird uses the literary devices of ethos, logos and pathos in a unique way. To Kill A Mockingbird has a foundation of good and evil throughout the story and focuses on the lessons Jem and Scout have learned. The literary devices are predominantly used by Atticus during the case of Tom Robinson as he attempts to persuade the jury of Tom’s innocence. Atticus uses logos and pathos for the majority of his arguments and draws clear evidence and uses pathos to give the jury a sense of nobility and responsibility to Tom Robinson. The primary focus of this literary analysis paper is to identify the use of ethos, logos and of pathos in the book of To Kill A Mockingbird which identifies the literary devices atticus Finch uses in the case of To Robinson.

Logos

In To Kill A Mockingbird logos is primarily used by Atticus throughout the story; a primary example of this is during the Tom Robinson case when he proves Bob Ewell is left-handed by having him write his name on a piece of paper in front of everyone and his daughter Myella could only specifically be beaten by someone using his left hand due to the fact she was beaten on the right side of her face and hr right eye being blackened and the right side of her face being swollen. Due to Tom Robinson’s case not being logical findings based but rather based on hearsay without additional witnesses Atticus had to use as much logical based arguments as possible in order to build a proper defense for Tom. Atticus drew a logical conclusion between Bob Ewell’s left handedness and the fact that Tom Robinson does not have function of his left hand. Atticus also asked Bob and the sheriff why they didnt call a doctor after seeing the severity of Myella’s damage to her face. They say “there was no need to but she was mighty banged up” this lacks a logical based argument as Atticus points that out by saying “You didn’t think the severity of her injuries required immediate medical attention?” Since there was no evidence to draw from, Atticus couldn’t show more logos here other than the lack thereof because both the sheriff and Myella’s father did not handle the situation right. Throughout the case Atticus uses logos – logic based arguments and both the sheriff and Bob Ewell had a lack thereof. This is how logos in the story were primarily used by Atticus. Unfortunately however the use of logos wasn’t enough the social traditions of Maycomb county to allow Tom Robinson to go free. During the time of the story despite all logic based arguments because of the social expectations the court would never favor a black man in a case like Tom’s this is when Jem and Scout start to see the world is not perfect and that there is evil in this world.

Pathos

Throughout the story Atticus uses pathos during the case to make a connection with Tom Robinson by mentioning “A quiet, hubble, responsable, humble and responsible who who had the unmitigated temerity to feel sorry for a white woman and now has to put his word against two white people” Atticus uses this to make the jury pitty Tom Robinson and relate to the jurors to Tom because they all share one trait which is feelings. Atticus also tries persuading jurors of the innocence of Tom Robinson from the accusations that he molested Mayella by exploiting his real identity as a believer in god. Atticus swears Tom’s innocence of the act and the latter believes he is innocent in his version of the story. In this case ethos is presented as a way to show credibility in convincing the audience of Atticus’s claims Atticus continues to use pathos by highlighting the reality of the fact that the jury has a very significant task and responsibility at hand to follow by reminding the jury of their essential duty Atticus attempts to give the jury a sensation of nobility and in a way convincing them they must do the same for Tom Robinson. The method Atticus is using is to manipulate the feelings of the jury and attempting to pull at their heartstrings. This is a clear effort by Atticus to persuade the jury by using pathos to make his case for Tom Robinson’s innocence. Atticus argues that Tom is indeed a good person with morality and is not deserving to be treated like a criminal and testifies Tom Robinson’s innocence and indeed did not rape Myella. Furthermore Atticus continues using pathos by emphasizing the jurys great responsibility for society. He also makes a point to state within the justice of the jury a stupid man is equil to a smart man he says this to point out the equolity of the court system.

Ethos

Atticus uses ethos by trying to prove Tom Robinson’s innocence and uses ethos to prove he is moral by pointing out her is a “qiet, humble, respectable man who felt sorry for a white woman” and doesn’t hesitate to point out he is a morla believer in good and is a hard worker who has never caused trouble at his work. Atticus uses many examples of Tom Robinson’s goodness as his use of ethos like him helping Myella bust up chifferobes many times in the past with no pay and he says Tom “felt sorry for her” however Tom Robinson’s morality and generosity does get used against him when the prosecutors claims Tom Robbinson was only helping Mayella because he was attracted to her. Despite this Atticus continues to prove Tom Robinson’s goodness by asking if he’s ever went on the Ewell’s property without a specific invitation and also mentions the fact Tom is married with children and is significantly older than Myella.

In all these examples Atticus attempts to make a case to the already biased jury Tom is a good person and is innocent but unfortunately it wasn’t enough against the social implications of the time. The court rules in favor of Ewell and Tom Robinson is locked away as I previously mentioned. Despite every effort Atticus made and despite his arguments that had logos ethos and pathos he unfortunately lost the case to racism.

The Ethos, Logos, And Pathos In Letter from Birmingham Jail

Martin Luther King was a very intelligent man who went to college when he was just fifteen years old. He got his doctorate degree in theology from Boston University, which is a very prestigious school back then. In King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, he is addressing several clergymen who are criticizing his actions during the protest. There is a clear use of ethos, logos, and pathos in this letter.

The use of ethos is used right off the bat when he starts his letter. The letter is written to “My dear Fellow Clergymen” (King), with him saying this you can see that he is not looking up to them as a higher or lower person than himself. He is looking at them as equal. Though people did not see it that way even if King had higher education status than the clergymen. He acknowledges his audience as “men of genuine goodwill” (King). King is so good at knowing his audience in everything he does. The knowledge he has of his audience is impeccable. The way King communicates through out his letter is very calm and patient. The tone he uses is unemotional and very reasonable. He is trying to reason with the clergymen instead of just going off on them. King is agreeing where he can agree. King is willing to negotiate with them instead of fight. In some of his letter he is understanding and relating to the audience. Readers can just see the confidence in his letter when they read it. In his letter King is using a lot of references such as, Socrates, Niebuhr, Paul, Thoreau, Tillich, and Buber. When he references Paul on the first page of his letter, he gives an example of how Paul “left his little village”(King) and “carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Greco-Roman world, I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular hometown” (King). Martin relates to Paul for what he did an feels the same way about doing what he does for the civil rights movement as Paul felt for carrying the gospel of Jesus to different cities and villages. When King references Paul Tillich he is most likely putting that in is letter for his protestant readers.

Martin Luther King uses logic (logos) in his argument. He tells the clergymen that he came to Birmingham because of an organization for civil rights and they invited him to come. King argues that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly… Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider” (King). Dr. King is upset at the word used by the clergymen describing him as “outsiders coming in” (King). He defends everyone by saying what I stated above. King then goes on about the basic steps in a nonviolent campaign. King starts with the facts stating Birmingham’s, “Its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of this country. Its unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious reality. There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in Birmingham than in any other city in this nation. These are the hard, brutal, and unbelievable facts. On the basis of them, Negro leaders sought to negotiate with the city fathers. But the political leaders consistently refused to engage in good-faith negotiation” (King). This is a huge part of his letter because he gives nothing but the facts about the city. He even states that the colored people of Birmingham try to negotiate with the city fathers but they refuse.

The use of Pathos is used all throughout King’s letter in the emotion of his language. Especially when King talks about his family. In the paragraph that he’s talking about his daughter and son he is faced with some tough questions from his young children. King states, “When she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see the depressing clouds of inferiority begin to form in her little mental sky, and see her begin to distort her little personality by unconsciously developing a bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son asking in agonizing pathos, ‘Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?’” (King). Martin Luther King has to explain to his children why white people are so mean and why they can’t go to fun places in the community such as a park where everyone else gets to go.

The Ethos, Logos, and Pathos that King uses in his letter is remarkable. He knows how to use the tone of his voice, how to appeal to his audience and what facts to use. King closes the letter with a sense of resolution and humbleness.

Pathos, Ethos And Logos In The Article “Troublemakers” By Malcolm Gladwell

The article “Troublemakers” by Malcolm Gladwell describes the story of a young child getting attacked by a dog followed by 2 more dogs in Ontario, Canada, which ultimately causes the the Ontario legislature to ban the ownership of pit bulls and “pit bull-type” dogs. The child was walking behind his parents on their way home when the dogs jumped the fence and attacked the child which hospitalized him. This ban can be questioned to why exactky pit bulls are banned. Gladwell believes that pit bulls and breeds similar to these are excessively overgeneralized and unfairly banned. Gladwell speaks clearly about the cultural trend of profiling in this article. It focuses on how society usually generalizes about a problem that concerns them, often as a precaution to prevent such problems from happening again instead of figuring out the actual root of these problems.

Gladwell uses pathos to convince his readers of his argument. When Gladwell asks, “How do we know when we’ve made the right generalization?”, he is trying to guilt his readers by persuading them to generalize or stereotype because how can they declare what is truly right in a given circumstance. Gladwell also appeals to pathos when he states, “These are animals that have not had an opportunity to become socialized to people. They don’t necessarily even know that children are small human beings. They tend to see them as prey”. Gladwell uses pathos here to cement sorrow and compassion to his readers by explaining that pit bulls and related dogs are only the outcome of what their owners have taught them or influenced them by. Meaning had the owners or whoever took car of the dog has shown love and care for the dog then the dog is more likely to be a harmless product compared to that of a dog who has been neglected and taught violent ways who can end up being harmful and aggressive.

Gladwell also uses pathos when he says, “In many cases, vicious dogs are hungry or in need of medical attention”. Gladwell continues to portray of pettiness and compassion towards the readers by creating an image in their heads showing of a dog who needs medical help so bad that the dog has no option but to violent and aggressive. Gladwell mainy uses pathos to portray and convey emotions such as pity, sorrow, sympathy and compassion, to create a better understanding for his readers to understand and side with his argument.

Gladwell uses ethos to convince his readers of his argument. Gladwell uses a lot of credible sources to enhance his effects of ethos to even better his credibility in his argument. Gladwell cites a credible source, ‘The way a lot of these laws are written, pit bulls are whatever they say they are,’ Lora Brashears, a kennel manager in Pennsylvania, says. ‘And for most people it just means big, nasty, scary dog that bites’ (“Troublemakers”). Gladwell is ethically appealing because he is quoting a kennel manager who explains how ridiculous it is to ban pit bulls. The kennel leader is clearly well educated in animals because it is his job.

Gladwell also appeals to ethos when he cites a credible source, “Randall Lockwood, a senior vice-president of the A.S.P.C.A. and one of the country’s leading dog bite experts, told me …”. Gladwell is ethically appealing because he cites Randall Lockwood, ASPCA’s senior vice president, as well as one of the country’s leading experts on dog bites. By citing strong, credible and important figures, Gladwell strengthens the credibility and trust of his entire readers and helps them better understand his arguments.

Lastly, Gladwell uses logos to persuade the readers of his argument that pit bulls have falsely been generalized as aggressive. By using logos, Gladwell is attempting to convince his reader of argument through the use of logic or reason. When Gladwell states in his article, “Pit-bull bans involve a category problem, too, because pit bulls, as it happens, aren’t a single breed”. Here, Gladwell proves his argument by using appeal logos because he shows evidence that the ban on pit bulls is unreasonable due to the fact that that pit bulls are not a single breed. By banning pit bulls, Ontario is banning to various breeds and any “pit bull-type dog”.

In his article, Gladwell also states, “Pit bulls were not bred to fight humans. On the contrary: a dog that went after … people involved in making a dogfighting dog a good dogfighter was usually put down” (“Troublemakers”). Gladwell proves logos because it provides evidence that pit bulls were not bred to fight humans due to the fact that once a pit bull got really good he would be put down; it appeals to reason because if pit bulls weren’t even bred to be aggressive than we should not generalize them as aggressive. Gladwell also appeals to logos when he writes, “The dogs that bite people are, in many cases, socially isolated because their owners are socially isolated, and they are vicious because they have owners who want a vicious dog” (“Troublemakers”). Gladwell proves logos because it provides evidence that most pit bulls that are aggressive, it is due to the fact that pit bulls that show aggression is because they were previously exposed to that environment by their owners. The author tries to explain that dogs mimic their owner’s behavior so a pit bull’s behaviors and temperament will reflect the original owners. Gladwell uses logos by creating reason and logic in his statements.

Gladwell’s goal to educate his readers how society makes overgeneralizations about a problem that has affected them, often as a precaution to prevent such problems from happening again. Gladwell uses these examples of excessive generalization and applies them to laws against pit bulls, highlighting the problems of excessive generalization in dog breeds and in general.

Gladwell revales when profiling we should not ask questions about race or gender rather general questions that can help link a person to a culprit.

Essay on Ethos in JFK Inaugural Address

Two years before his assassination, John F. Kennedy gave one of the most motivational and influential speeches to the world at his inauguration. The presidential inauguration of 1961 introduced the new United States president to the world, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The presidential inauguration has one of the objectives to earn the trust of those who did not vote for the newly elected president. To conquer this objective, a reasonably persuasive inauguration speech is ideal. John F. Kennedy to make an appealing inauguration speech, used rhetorical modes and methods of persuasion, like parallelism, repetition, and pathos.

At the beginning of JFK’s speech, the use of parallelism is used to affect the audience. JFK wanted the audience to relate his victory to a symbol of freedom. The persuasion in the first part of his speech is also used but in contrast with parallelism. The combination of both rhetorical modes is addressed when he says, ‘Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.’ The combination of persuasion and parallelism is not unusual in speeches. Still, Kenndy not only persuades his audience, but he also lists the actions his government will take, making his speech even more persuasive.

The use of ethos was present in President Kennedy’s speech. The objective of using ethos in his speech was to conquer the voter’s trust after the election. President Kennedy always liked talking to people, so once he was elected, he knew how to apply ethos in his speech in a way to satisfy the voter’s expectations at that moment. Back in 1961, not all Americans had a stable economic situation, so when President Kennedy said, ‘break the bonds of mass misery,’ he was immediately implying ethos to make Americans think about their situation. In the following statement, President Kennedy addresses those who are living in misery, ‘If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich,’ this statement abroad the majority of Americans, narrowing his focus to the poor and wealthy Americans, affecting the whole country.

Presidential Kennedy’s speech also appeals to ethos through moral values. He mentions God in his speech when he addresses ‘With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth and to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing here on earth God’s work must truly be our own,’ addressing God in his speech make moral standpoint clear to his audience. Throughout President Kennedy’s essay, he makes statements that comfort his voter’s newly elected president, an example can be found when he states, ‘I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it.’ America had just faced to Vietnam war, and President Kennedy used ethos one more time to comfort the Americans when he mentioned peace. Kennedy, in his speech, made Americans believe in peace again. Talking about peace affects not only groups, but it affects the whole country.

A good oratory skill is recognized when the orator uses a range of rhetorical modes. Another rhetorical mode that President Kennedy uses is repetition. Right at the beginning of his speech, Kennedy repeats at the beginning of each paragraph, the words ‘those’ and ‘to.’ The repetition of the same words in each paragraph made the listeners pay more attention to Kennedy’s words at his inauguration. In the second part of the speech, President Kennedy addresses ‘Let booth sides,’ he starts four paragraphs using the same words. When President Kennedy mentions sides, he is addressing the United States and the countries that oppose the USA. Although it seems a comparison to USA enemies, Kennedy tries to draw similarities between the USA and other countries. President Kennedy’s objective is to show his audience that other countries are seeking the same freedom as the USA is trying to find. Not only did words become repetitive use, but President Kennedy also repeated some of his ideas throughout his speech. Kennedy restated the concept of freedom multiple times in his speech.

Frederick Douglass: Ethos, Pathos, Logos Essay

Douglass employs the idea that there are two different forms of Christianity, one real and one fake, which he illustrates in the text using rhetorical appeals such as logos through the characterization of the Auld family, pathos using strong diction such as ”master” and ”sanction”, and ethos through an ethical paradox that is Mr. Covey. The Christianity of the slaveholders is very hypocritical and is used to justify their efforts, also known as false Christianity. Douglass’s background repeatedly displays that the people who partake very fervently in religious actions are usually white Southerners who handle slaves most callously. The repugnant white southerners are very quick to criticize slaves for even the smallest violations of religious beliefs but are all inclined to wiggle the Word of God into rationalizing their terrorizing sacrilegious acts. Real Christianity is also present in The Narrative of Frederick Douglass and is Christianity that is usually lived by white people who disagree with slavery or are practiced by themselves. Throughout the whole story, Douglass’s analysis of religion is present and the audience gets the feeling that slavery and real Christianity are contradicting pressures of society and one cannot exist without the other one being present. It seems as if real Christianity does occur in a natural aspect, but the beginning of slavery inescapably distorts it. Douglass unveils the concealed hypocrisy in the South as he pairs both aspects of Christianity together. The slaveholders use religion to make it seem as though their actions towards the slaves are approved and nothing is unfair about them.

Douglass displays how the Christianity of the slaveholders is hypocritical and is used to pardon their efforts through the use of fortress-like characterization of Thomas Auld, his master, to illustrate logos. It has been about 7 years since Douglass has resided with Thomas Auld, and remembers instantly the savage nature of Thomas and his wife. ”I was made acquainted with his wife not less than with himself. They were well matched, being equally mean and cruel.” Thomas Auld and his wife were cruel in many ways to Douglass but one of the heftiest ways they indicate this is through not sufficiently feeding the slaves food. Many other slaves including Douglass are urged to seize and plead for food to survive. ”A great many times have we poor creatures been nearly perishing with hunger, when food in abundance lay moldering in the safe and smoke-house, and our pious mistress was aware of the fact; and yet that mistress and her husband would kneel every morning, and pray that God would bless them in basket and store.”

Douglass expresses logos while characterizing Thomas Auld and his wife as incredibly ruthless and vile. He used logos to get the audience on his side. He desired for the readers to look at the Auld’s as awful and vile people; he wanted the audience to think logically. While they forgo their abundant food from their slaves, who are now diminished to utter desperation, the Auld fake holiness and pray for more food. Douglass uses a bitter tone towards his slave masters to elucidate how frustrated and upset he is about them and the hypocrisy utilized by his slaveholders. The Christianity of Thomas Auld and his wife is not legitimate, as it only makes the masters harsher to their slaves like not giving them food that they have.

Douglass applies to the emotions of the audience by using sharp diction like ”master” and ”sanction.” Douglass was held as an observer of a harrowing show of Auld thrashing a young woman. While Auld did so, ”…he would quote this passage of Scripture — ’He that knoweth his master’s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes.’” It is shown in the scripture that the importance of ”master” does not pertain to a slave-owning master. This scripture is referring to Jesus Christ as the master and the outcome, as Luke explains, is being beaten which is the penalty for defying the Divine master, not a slave owner master. This may make the reader feel sick through the use of the scripture while he was whipping a young woman. Mr. Auld, ”… found religious sanction for his cruelty” which uses significant diction utilizing ”sanction” to show the implication of discovering religious stability and enjoyment for his efforts. Auld is doing terribly and thinking that if it gratifies him, then it gratifies whoever he admires. That is how he finds contentment in his misdeeds. Douglass makes the reader feel extreme resentment and irritation toward Mr. Auld as he is justifying his actions by using religion and God as an excuse. Douglass’s tone throughout this is bitter toward Mr. Auld and his hypocrisy towards religion.

Another use of rhetorical device that Douglass uses in his novel is ethos by using a paradox. Christianity is Douglass’ primary priority throughout his narrative. Ethos is used to indicate ethical inconsistencies crucial to the process of slavery. It is very important in the tenth chapter with the introduction of Mr. Covey. Edward Covey sees himself as an extremely spiritual Christian and tries to deceive God and himself. This, however, is not the case as his sinful efforts unveil him to be nothing further than a double-dealing villain who uses religion to make it seem like trashing the slaves is okay. ”The facts in the case are these: Mr. Covey was a poor man; he was just commencing in life; he was only able to buy one slave; and, shocking as is the fact, he bought her, as he said, for a breeder.” Breeding is one of the most horrible methods of slavery, and it further renounces Covey’s proclaimed allegiance to Christianity.

Douglass declared that Mr. Covey’s ”…life was devoted to planning and perpetrating the grossest deceptions. Everything he possessed in the shape of learning or religion, he made conform to his disposition to deceive.” This attached the audience by depicting an exceptionally apparent example of the ethical paradox of being a slaveholder and a Christian. Douglass is portraying himself as a victim in this situation, as he is, which helps convey how frightening and hypocritical Mr. Covey is when it comes to Christianity and how he treats slaves. Douglass conveys a frustrated tone as he is angry and does not believe he can do anything about it just yet. It makes Douglass despise Mr. Covey more than he already does as he is insincere toward Christianity.

Douglass speaks in numerous moments of his beliefs of religious hypocrisy in the South and how he feels like he does not have the religious freedom that the Southerners do. They treated the slaves like garbage and didn’t think anything of it because they were religious and deemed it okay. Through not giving the slaves food they have and praying for more, reading a scripture from the Bible while whipping a woman, and having a breeder as a slave and saying it is okay because he is a Christian. Douglass attempts to convince that religious hypocrisy negatively affected his life every day and that his slave owners were harsh and hypocritical by using scriptures and religious connections. Douglas Illustrates religious hypocrisy in the text using rhetorical appeals such as logos through the characterization of the Auld family, pathos using strong diction such as ”master” and ”sanction”, and ethos through an ethical paradox that is Mr. Covey. The Christianity of the slaveholders is very hypocritical and is used to justify their efforts, also known as false Christianity. Douglass focuses on the life of hypocrisy and voices his displeasure with the way they live.            

King and Kennedy Comparison: Ethos, Logos and Pathos Essay

The Civil Rights movement in the United States was a movement that happened for years, to administer Constitutional and legal Rights for African Americans. many events took place such as riots boycotting and sit-ins but what helped the most were the speeches that took place. Many speeches were told To help gain more people to join this movement and help African Americans get the rights that they truly deserved. Speeches told by John F Kennedy, Dr.Martin Luther King jr, and Robert Kennedy these speeches were some of the most powerful speeches during the Civil Rights movement.

John F. Kennedy was somebody who felt for the various gatherings that were not getting treated as they ought to have been dealt with. On June 11, 1963, Kennedy conveyed an amazing discourse in the interest of the gatherings who so frantically should have been heard. He clarified that everybody was made equivalent and should have similar rights by expressing, ‘I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. “ He tended to the issues of democratic, isolated training, work, and treatment. The words he utilized and the explanations that he established left a connection in a great many personalities. It was his message coordinated to America and Congress that helped have any kind of effect on The Social Liberties Development that will consistently be recalled. Kennedy had such a successful method of talking, ethos was his strong point. Kennedy’s ethos was shown when communicated in language that was suitable for all Americans and when he indicated skills in what he was exhibiting to the country. He introduced himself in a way that caused him to appear as though he was loaded with words that were astute and significant. His talking spread out his fundamental beliefs as he remained before everybody expressing that it wasn’t right to treat individuals contrastingly depending on the shade of their skin or their race. He clarified how it was difficult for African Americans to get an opportunity to find a better-than-average line of work due to the circumstances they got put in concerning training. He didn’t utilize any impolite or profane language, he essentially just clarified the issue and requested a change.

On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. introduced one of the most logically motivating talks at any point conveyed. Titled the ‘I Have a Dream.’ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. introduced this discourse to the ‘March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” group. As a social liberties extremist, he gave this discourse to African Americans as well as to all Americans with the goal could advancing the possibility of equity. He was shrewdly ready to logically deliver his discourse with the objective for Americans to comprehend and concur with him. He raised issues of society that influenced his whole group of spectators genuinely and legitimately. Martin Luther King’s discourse effectively raised the issue of social liberties utilizing numerous explanatory techniques to a racially blended group of spectators whom he saw as equivalent, not extraordinary. Martin Luther King Jr was very brave to give his speech during this time, with all the violence that was breaking out. A few months before giving his speech M.L.K was arrested during his anti-segregation protest but continued to fight with peace. One of the most powerful lines In Martin Luther King Jr speech is “But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free.” Martin Luther King Jr wanted to point out that slavery had ended years ago yet they did not have equal freedom to white Americans. Martin Luther King wrote his speech in a very special way, he wanted to make sure that people all over the country understood the message he wanted to deliver, saying “ I have a dream” repetitively is a tactic used by most authors when wanting to preserve their audience.

Robert F. Kennedy also known as Bobby Kennedy gave his speech the night of April 4, 1968, during Kennedy’s campaign tour. Kennedy had recently landed in Indianapolis, Indiana when he heard the appalling updates on Martin Luther King’s murder. Following his plane landed Kennedy was required to show up openly to advance with the promotion of his campaign. While the police exceptionally asked Kennedy to skip this stop on his visit because the zone was viewed as a risky ghetto, Kennedy demanded he give a speech. The abrupt, sudden, and decimating news was the impetus for a prompt difference in the plan as Kennedy would have the troublesome errand of addressing a for the most part dark, very upbeat group of spectators, none of whom knew about the ongoing death of Martin Luther King. This set everything up for what might be a noteworthy, intelligent, and offhand dedication discourse that has been saved as a Kennedy trademark. This Speech was not planned at all, Kenndy delivered straight from the heart, and he was able to relate to the feeling of losing someone very precious. When giving this speech to a large group of African Americans, Bobby knew that they might not take this news well from a White American. In his speech it states “For those of you who are black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and mistrust of the injustice of such an act, against all white people, I would only say that I can feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling…But we have to make an effort in the United States, we have to make an effort to understand, to get beyond these rather difficult times”. Bobby Kenndy wanted to make sure that Indianapolis, Indiana stayed calm and not to start riots or start killing white Americans. After other states heard News of Martin Luther King being assassinated they started riots and were very hard to control, the only state to remain calm was the state where Bobby Kennedy delivered his speech. while reading this speech I felt kind of torn that Bobby Kennedy had to deliver this speech because he lost his brother due to assassination and I wondered what was going on through his head while delivering the speech. I was very impressed that this whole speech came from the top of his head with no preparation no flashcards just him and his heart speaking to a crowd who I just lost someone who was fighting for their natural rights in government.    

Rhetorical Analysis Essay on ‘I Have a Dream’: Ethos, Logos, Pathos

Inequality around the world has been a huge problem for many people. Not many voices have been heard, but the people who dared to speak up about it like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did in his “I Have a Dream” speech given to Congress on August 28th, 1963. Like Dr. King, Malala Yousafzai spoke against inequality and injustice in her “Nobel Lecture” speech given on December 10th, 2014 at the Oslo City Hall in Norway. Both Martin Luther King’s and Malala Yousafzai’s speeches are similar because they use Pathos, Ethos, and repetition to try and eliminate inequalities in the world.

In Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and Malala Yousafzai’s “Nobel Lecture” speech, both speakers use the rhetorical device, of pathos, to strengthen the severity of their points that they are trying to get across to the world. In Dr. King’s speech, he says “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character” (King). He says this to appeal to his audience’s emotions, specifically parents and older generations. He is a father and wants more for his children. He does not want his children or any child to experience what he had to during his life. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s utilization of pathos was effective by starting a feeling of blame in his audience, who displayed carelessness to the reason for the Civil Rights Movement and showed the lack of authorization of the protected rights that had a place with African Americans. Dr. King attempts to make his dissatisfaction with the fact that the years of ignorance have caused the world to go to pieces obvious. While listening to the speech, the audience can feel King’s anger in it. His firm confidence in solidarity and kind-heartedness are apparent in every part of his speech. There is an unmistakable sense of outrage in his speech at the limits that have shielded African Americans from discovering pleasure in their lives and he wants the listeners to feel it. As well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Malala Yousafzai effectively uses pathos to appeal to her audience’s emotions. Malala Yousafzai utilizes pathos often in her speech by talking with conviction, using clear language, and shifting her manner of speaking. In addition, she likewise explains numerous stories to the crowd, both from her own life and from other individuals who have encountered comparable things as herself. A case of how Malala Yousafzai attempts to allow the audience to feel her words is when she says “I had two options. One was to remain silent and wait to be killed. And the second was to speak up and be killed. I chose the second one. I decided to speak up” (Yousafzai). This was to show that Yousafzai has been through a lot of things in her life and she wants to bring awareness to the circumstances that she, along with millions of people around the world, has had to live through. This illustrates a sense of passion in her speech because she firmly believes that there needs to be a change in the world regarding inequalities and injustices. The audience can feel her pain through her words and feel pity towards the situation. The speeches are similar in terms of pathos because both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malala Yousafzai successfully use pathos to appeal to their audience’s emotions, making them all have sympathy towards both situations. Dr. Martin Luther King looks to unite the different races and help them live as equivalents. The passionate component in his speech becomes more grounded as he talks about the different types of torment the African American society has experienced in its battle for equity and opportunity. This is intended to make the listeners feel away. When Malala Yousafzai uses pathos, she also strives to make the audience feel a way when she mentions her personal experiences of injustice. Both speakers effectively used the appeal to the crowd’s emotions to strengthen their points to the world of people listening to them.

In Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and Malala Yousafzai’s “Nobel Lecture” speech, both speakers use the rhetorical device, of ethos, also to emphasize the severity of the points that they are trying to get across to the world. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. mentions Abraham Lincoln when he says “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation” (King). His utilization of Lincoln brought authority into his discourse. Lincoln was an incredible and extraordinary president who empowered American individuals all through the Civil War. He picked up the trust of America and built up another feeling of opportunity. Martin Luther King is bringing forth the authority of Lincoln and his view on social liberties. This gives a solid ethos appeal and builds up validity with his group of listeners.