Aristotelian appeals are three methods of persuasion: ethos, pathos, and logos. In AP English, students study how writers use these appeals to convince their audience by building trust, using emotions, or presenting logical arguments.
Writers use ethos to show they are trustworthy or experienced, pathos to appeal to the reader’s emotions, and logos to use facts and reasoning. Understanding these appeals helps students analyse and write persuasive texts more effectively, especially in rhetorical analysis essays on the AP English exam.
Example of Aristotelian appeals in an AP English text
In 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' by Martin Luther King Jr., all three appeals are used:
Ethos: He builds credibility by explaining his role in the civil rights movement.
Pathos: He talks about the pain of segregation, especially for children.
Logos: He uses clear reasoning to argue why waiting for justice is not acceptable.
This combination strengthens his message and persuades readers to support the civil rights cause.
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