Ethos is a rhetorical or written technique that appeals to an audience or readers ethics. It is one of the modes of persuasion, along with logos and pathos. Ethos is all about credibility and is used to convey the writers credibility and authority. A writer can use ethos to show readers why they are the best person to be writing or talking about a particular topic or issue. Ethos can be established through a writers experiences, education, work, or research. Ethos can also be thought of as the role of the writer in the argument and how credible their argument is.
Some examples of ethos include advertisements where doctors recommend a product, murder mysteries where the main character is a professional detective, and political speeches where a candidate talks about their relevant experience. To establish ethos, a writer can use their own credibility on a topic or use credible sources, which, in turn, builds their credibility as a writer.
In summary, ethos is a technique used in writing to appeal to the audiences ethics and convey the writers credibility and authority. It is one of the modes of persuasion and can be established through a writers experiences, education, work, or research.
