Logos, Pathos, and Ethos Defined

9th Grade50 minutes

Learning Objective

I can define logos, pathos, and ethos and explain how they are used in persuasive writing.

Key Concepts

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion, and understanding its tools allows you to craft and analyze effective arguments.

Rhetorical devices like similes, metaphors, and hyperbole are figures of speech that make meaning through comparison or overstatement.

The three rhetorical appeals are logos (logic), pathos (emotion), and ethos (authority).

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. Define rhetoric in your own words.

2. Which rhetorical appeal relies on the trustworthiness or credibility of the speaker or writer?

3. Give an example of how logos might be used in an argument about climate change.

...and 9 more questions

Educational Video

Rhetorical devices and appeals | Reading | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

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