Ethos Pathos and Logos Flashcards

A senator begins a floor speech by saying, 'As the father of three daughters, I know firsthand…' This opening primarily establishes:

Answer: Ethos through personal credibility and relatability

Sharing a personal role creates both credibility and relatability, which are central to the ethos appeal.

Which logical fallacy involves dismissing an argument by attacking the person making it rather than the argument itself?

Answer: Ad hominem

Ad hominem attacks the speaker's character rather than the substance of their argument, making it a fallacy against logos.

An advertiser claims, '9 out of 10 dentists recommend this toothpaste.' This is primarily an appeal to:

Answer: Both logos and ethos

The statistic provides a logos-based data point while the dentist endorsement provides ethos through expert authority.

The term 'kairos' in AP Lang refers to:

Answer: The opportune moment or context in which an argument is made

Kairos is the rhetorical concept of timing — making an argument at the most strategically effective moment.

When a writer uses a vivid anecdote about one individual to represent a broader population, this technique primarily appeals to:

Answer: Pathos

A vivid personal story is designed to create emotional identification and sympathy, which defines the pathos appeal.

A scientist publishing a paper in a peer-reviewed journal primarily establishes credibility through which appeal?

Answer: Both ethos and logos

Peer-reviewed publication establishes both credibility (ethos) and logical rigor through evidence and reasoning (logos).