What makes argument by pathos successful

Authors make deliberate word choices, use meaningful language, and use examples and stories that evoke emotion. Authors can desire a range of emotional responses, including sympathy, anger, frustration, or even amusement. To use logos, the author makes clear, logical connections between ideas, and includes the use of facts and statistics. Using historical and literal analogies to make a logical argument is another strategy. There should be no holes in the argument, also known as logical fallacies, which are unclear or wrong assumptions or connections between ideas.

When evaluating a piece of writing, the reader must know if the writer is qualified to comment on this issue. The writer can communicate their authority by using credible sources; choosing appropriate language; demonstrating that they have fairly examined the issue by considering the counterargument ; introducing their own professional, academic or authorial credentials; introducing their own personal experience with the issue; and using correct grammar and syntax.

And by experiencing this emotion, the reader begins to develop his or her own emotional response: sympathy, horror, and anger. The student has helped the reader connect to his argument through the effective use of pathos. Pathos becomes a liability in an argument when it is inappropriate for the subject matter or genre of writing being used. An audience can also find an overload of pathos to be off-putting. For instance, after September 11, , the majority of people in the United States experienced an overwhelming sense of anger and fear.

They felt as though their emotions were being manipulated to obtain votes. In this case, an overload of pathos backfired on the candidates. Understanding pathos is important for readers and for writers. As a writer, you want to be aware of proper uses of pathos, paying close attention to both your subject matter and your audience. There is no need to sound like an after-school special, unless, of course, you are writing for one.

Skip to content Writing Commons The encyclopedia for writers, researchers, and knowledge workers. Main Menu. How Can We Help You? When a writer employs a narrative or anecdote, he or she is usually attempting to connect with the reader emotionally. Images or other forms of media. Songs and pictures produce emotional responses. When you think about appealing to pathos, you should consider all of the potential emotions people experience. While we often see or hear arguments that appeal to sympathy or anger, appealing to pathos is not limited to these specific emotions.

You can also use emotions such as humor, joy or even frustration, to note a few, in order to convince your audience. This means you could, and should, use pathos, but you have to do so carefully. An overly-emotional argument can cause you to lose your credibility as a writer. You have probably seen many arguments based on an appeal to pathos. In fact, a large number of the commercials you see on television or the internet actually focus primarily on pathos. For example, many car commercials tap into our desire to feel special or important.

They suggest that, if you drive a nice car, you will automatically be respected. With the power of pathos in mind, here are some strategies you can use to carefully build pathos in your arguments.