Assessment Description:
In the rhetorical analysis assignment, you will be expected to demonstrate an understanding that every text is created for a unique situation and audience. You will need to act on this by analyzing the decisions made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on their website about ADHD. This includes the persuasive appeals the CDC uses.
Aristotle believed that speakers and writers used three kinds of persuasive appeals. Logos is an appeal to the audience’s powers of reason or logic. Pathos is an appeal to emotions or senses. Ethos is the personal appeal, charisma, or credibility of the speaker or writer. These three appeals are known as the rhetorical triangle because all three sides work together to make a text effective or not.
In your own words, explain the concepts of pathos, logos, and ethos and why they are important appeals to recognize in a text. Next, use the CDC's page about ADHD to analyze the ethos, logos, and pathos in the document.
Consider the following questions in your response:
- What do you think about the logic presented in the document?
- What do you think about its emotional appeal
- What about its appeal to authority or credibility?
- Does the CDC effectively present each of the rhetorical appeals? Why or why not?
Link to Centers of Disease Control’s website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html
Please contact Assignment Samurai for help with this or any other assignment.
Email: assignmentsamurai@gmail.com
Solution to ENG-105: English Composition I - Topic 1 DQ 3.
SAMPLE 1
Hello class,
In writing and communication, understanding and effectively utilizing the three rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos) is crucial for persuasive and impactful messaging. As outlined in Chapter 7 of Writing with Purpose (2022), these appeals form the foundation of rhetorical analysis and are essential tools for both creating and analyzing texts. Grand Canyon University (2022) refers to ethos as the writer's appeal to authority and can also include the writer's charisma, character, and credibility. In simple terms, it encompasses the writer's character, expertise, and trustworthiness In the context of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), ethos is established through the reputation of the organization as a leading national public health institute.
On the other hand, pathos is the appeal to the audience's emotions or passions. Grand Canyon University (2022) defines it as "how the author uses tone to appeal to the audience's emotions or passions when attempting to convince them of his or her point of view". The CDC employs pathos by acknowledging the challenges faced by individuals with ADHD and their families thus creating an emotional connection with the reader. In addition, Grand Canyon University (2022) underlines that logos "means the author's appeal to the audience's logic, intellect, or reason". I believe the CDC's ADHD page extensively uses logos by presenting scientific information, statistics, and research-based facts about the condition.
In my opinion, the CDC effectively balances these appeals to create a comprehensive and persuasive webpage. The logical presentation of facts appeals to the reader's intellect, while the emotional undertones acknowledge the human aspect of the condition. The credibility of the CDC as a source further strengthens the overall message. I believe understanding and recognizing ethos, pathos, and logos in texts is crucial for effective communication and critical analysis. I look forward to analyzing the page further in the upcoming assignment.
References
CDC. (2024, June 27). About Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD). https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/about/index.html
Grand Canyon University (2022). Writing with purpose. (2nd ed.)