Question

read the excerpt from president woodrow wilsons speech, \war message to congress.\ with a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of the step i am taking and of the grave responsibilities which it involves, but in unhesitating obedience to what i deem my constitutional duty... which best expresses the type of appeal in this excerpt?

• pathos, an appeal based on emotions
• logos, an appeal based on logic or reason
• ethos, an appeal based on the speakers character
• financial, an appeal based on the audiences finances

Explanation:

In the excerpt, Wilson emphasizes his sense of duty to the constitution, highlighting his character and commitment to fulfilling his constitutional role. Ethos appeals to the speaker's credibility, character, or authority, which matches here as he focuses on his constitutional duty (relating to his role/character) rather than emotions (pathos), logic (logos), or finances (the last option is not a rhetorical appeal type).

Answer:

C. ethos, an appeal based on the speaker’s character