Introduction to Persuasion
Persuasion is defined as the ability to motivate individuals to understand as well as believe in your point of view and stance on an issue. When trying to persuade an audience or a reader, it is wise to gain their trust by appealing to their reason and emotion. There are three elements that are essential in making an effective persuasive argument.
Whether creating or analyzing a text, you must carefully think about the following elements:
- Text
- Audience
- Author
Elements of the Rhetorical Triangle
Visually, these elements are represented in the Rhetorical Triangle. In this interactivity, use the previous and next buttons or click each marker to learn about the elements in the Rhetorical Triangle. Click the player button to get started.
View a printable version of this interactivity.
You can devire from the triangle that these three elements influence one another. The author (rhetor) or speaker takes on a persona. This persona is created based on the purpose and knowledge about the audience, what the audience knows and feels about the subject, and how the speaker or writer wants to be perceived.
According to Greek philosopher Aristotle, when trying to effectively and ethically persuade an audience or reader, your writing must include the elements of ethos, pathos, and logos. This is no different from the Rhetorical Triangle you have already viewed. Just substitute the word ethos for author, pathos for audience, and logos for text.
Ethos: The author or speaker asserts and proves his or her credibility or character. The author or speaker wants to convince the audience or reader that he or she is reliable as well as honest.
Pathos: The author or speaker appeals to the audience or reader’s emotions. Because the author or writer is knowledgeable of the audience or reader, the author or writer is able to reach the audience or reader through the images created as well as his or her diction. When the use of pathos is effective, the audience or reader becomes sympathetic and is persuaded.
Logos: The author or speaker appeals to logic or reasoning. The author or speaker provides evidence to support his or her claims and provides statistics, facts, and concrete evidence.
Introduction to Persuasion Review
See how well you can identify the elements of persuasion. In this non-graded interactivity, read the description and drag and drop the correct term into the blank space provided. To check your answer click SUBMIT. Click the player button to get started.