3 Types Of Ethos Pathos Logos

Amnesty has been a debated issue in the United States for decades. Within the articles provided, one sets out to argue the position of pro-amnesty, while the subsequent article argues against amnesty. In analyzing how rhetoric is used in each article to convey their arguments, one must break down how the three types of rhetoric: ethos, logos, and pathos. Each are used to create a well-supported argument, or a poorly constructed argument. A strong argument will make use of each of these elements in one fashion or another. An argument should seek to establish ethos, or credibility. Allure the reader with pathos, or emotional connections. And, finally support the argument with logos, or logical reasoning. The Case for Amnesty article falls short …show more content…
The author tends to frequently quote politicians, instead of scholars, or experts. Political quotes show policy makers stance on the issue, but do not provide fact in which the argument should be based. Politicians almost always have a political agenda and may be willing to shy away from fact if it pleases their constituents. On the other hand, little information is given about the author in the article. The fact that the article comes from Time Magazine does establish some ethos for the argument, but no information is given about the author to establish if he is qualified or an expert on the subject. The article heavily relies on pathos. For example, the author gives a case of a 19–year-old girl who is struggling because of her illegal status. The author states, “Fernanda had dreams of going to college to study …show more content…
Ethos for the article is established at the beginning with the list of authors. The some of the authors have Ph.D.’s and others have experience working within the field of immigration. This helps create credibility of the argument, since all of the author’s credentials are given to the reader. Also the article is supported by multiple sources, which shows extensive research and gives a variety of perspectives. The argument is set up neatly; the authors place subtitles at the beginning of a section then proceed to explain them with a series of bullet points. Laying out the argument in this way allows the reader to easily understand the concepts that support the author’s argument. The argument makes use of all three types or rhetoric. For example the author states, “Additionally, illegal border crossings put lives and property at risk for the individuals crossing, for those enforcing the law, and for local communities. In some areas, crime, property damage, and the risk of death from austere environmental conditions or reckless acts are becoming endemic” (Carafano, Spalding, Rosenzweig, and Meese). The quote appeals to the reader’s emotions by discussing the risk of death and crime, which draws on the fears of the reader. In all the articles does a better job than the Pro-amnesty article, because it establishes ethos with credible authors and