Question

a politician presents a personal story about growing up in poverty to connect emotionally with voters. this is an example of which rhetorical appeal?

a. kairos
b. logos
c. pathos
d. ethos

Explanation:

To determine the correct rhetorical appeal, we analyze each option:

• Kairos relates to timing/context, not matching the personal story.
• Logos is logical reasoning/evidence, not a personal narrative.
• Pathos appeals to emotions, and a personal story about hardship (growing up poor, overcoming abuse) is designed to evoke empathy and emotional response.
• Ethos is about credibility/ethics, not a personal emotional story.

So the personal story uses pathos to connect emotionally.

Answer:

C. Pathos