The three rhetorical appeals are ethos, pathos, and logos. These appeals were identified by Aristotle and are used to classify an authors intellectual, moral, and emotional approaches to getting the audience to react in the manner in which the author may have intended.
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Ethos: This appeal refers to the credibility or trustworthiness of the speaker or writer. It is based on the audiences perception of the speakers character, expertise, or authority.
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Pathos: This appeal refers to the use of emotions to persuade the audience. It involves appealing to the audiences feelings, values, and beliefs.
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Logos: This appeal refers to the use of logic and reason to persuade the audience. It involves presenting a clear and logical argument that is supported by evidence and reasoning.
Effective arguments often use all three rhetorical appeals to support their point. However, the use of rhetorical appeals does not always lead to a sound, balanced argument, and any of the appeals could be misused or overused.
