I deserve an A in ENG 111 because I have a better understanding of rhetoric, I can identify ethos, pathos, and logos, and I can convey a message (in this case an essay) in a way that makes sense to my audience and that meets their expectations. Many people detest argument; however, I believe constructively arguing a point(s) demonstrates knowledge, but more importantly, teaches by doing. Going by my belief, by arguing each of my three focus points I will demonstrate a strong understanding of the course content; and in doing so, learn how to craft a better message, identify and use Aristotle’s three appeals more effectively, and convey a message more efficiently.
Rhetoric, defined in class as the art of effective communication, is something I am now more consciously aware of since taking ENG 111. In this essay I know that my target audience is my professor, so constantly using compound sentences and “$25” words, will convey my message more effectively. On the other hand, if I was writing to a public audience with clear style in a paper only my professor would read, then my understanding of the course, my vocabulary, and writing foundation may all come across as shallow – possibly causing me to fail. We also learned in class that it is no longer enough to hold an opinion “just because”. If an opinion is to hold any merit, there must be reasons supporting it. That’s why in this paper completing all of my work isn’t a focus point. I no longer can complete all my work and expect an A or B in the course; Instead, I must complete all of it and apply everything I’ve learned to produce quality work – which is why rhetoric, Aristotle’s three appeals, and formatting were selected.
Ethos, Pathos, and Logos were foreign concepts to me before ENG 111. Put simply, Ethos describes reputation, Pathos describes emotion, and Logos describes logic. In order to communicate effectively, a rhetorician must determine who their audience is, the objective of the message, and which appeals to use. This essay is almost entirely Logos driven because my assignment is to provide reasons why I deserve an A; and of course, logic is defined as “reasoning conducted according to strict principles of validity.” A proper research paper always has Ethos. Ethos relates to the reputation of the person who crafted the message or the people the message is derived from to communicate effectively. Research papers rely on the Ethos appeal by interpreting and listing other sources. Without the Ethos appeal, even the best research papers would hold no validity; which is why many educators don’t consider Wikipedia a legitimate source. Finally, the Pathos appeal establishes an emotional connection between the rhetorician and the audience to persuade or impress their audience. Pathos works most effectively in advertisements by using a source of intense emotion to promote a cause, product, or concern.
