Question

persuasive language
lets focus on ethos
ethos is an appeal to ethics; it is a means of convincing the audience of the character or credibility of the persuader.
how can you incorporate ethos?

• you can openly remind your audience who you are and why you are an authority on the subject. (as the leading researcher, i agree…).
• you can establish authority more subtly through the use of jargon or specialized terms (my quantitative research in linguistic anthropology has shown…).
• you can establish credibility by just using correct grammar and language, using solid reasoning and good arguments and therefore sounding credible and trustworthy.

examples:

> i have been married for 58 years and i can tell you that he will not be a good husband to you.

> having written ten successful novels myself, i can tell you that this book is worth buying.

> my friend, who has a phd in nutritional science, says that we should eat fewer carbohydrates.

why use ethos? if your audience believe you to be a qualified, authoritative figure, or an expert in a subject, they are more likely to be persuaded by your argument.
task one: for each of the following, identify whether or not ethos is used, and explain your reasoning.

		ethos?	explain
1	\as your father, i love you and only want the best for you. therefore when i ask you not to go, please listen to me.\
2	\we really should try that recipe. someone told me that it was good.\
3	\the research — conducted by professors at harvard university — suggests that you should learn a second language.\
4	\dentists all over the world are telling their patients the same things. you must floss regularly.\
5	\i read somewhere that bicarbonate of soda is really useful for cleaning. you should try it.\

task two: for each of the following scenarios, write your own persuasive sentences using ethos:

1. you are trying to persuade your mother to let you get a tattoo.

1. you are attempting to convince an audience that animal testing is morally wrong.

1. you are trying to persuade your teacher not to give you homework.

Explanation:

The problem is about identifying and using ethos in persuasive language, which falls under the subfield of Linguistics (within Arts) as it deals with language use and rhetorical appeals. For Task One, we analyze each statement:

1. "As your father...": The speaker uses their role as a father (a position of care/authority in the family) to establish credibility. So Ethos? Yes. Explain: The speaker leverages their role as a father (implying concern and knowledge of what's best) to add credibility to their request.

1. "We really should...": The source is "someone" (unidentified, no authority/credibility shown). Ethos? No. Explain: There's no reference to a credible or authoritative source/self - authority, just a vague "someone".

1. "The research... Harvard...": Harvard professors are authoritative in academia. Ethos? Yes. Explain: Citing research by Harvard professors (a credible, authoritative academic source) to support the argument.

1. "Dentists all over...": Dentists are experts in dental care. Ethos? Yes. Explain: Leveraging the collective authority of dentists (experts in the field) to persuade about flossing.

1. "I read somewhere...": The source is vague ("somewhere"), no credibility. Ethos? No. Explain: No authoritative or credible source is identified, just a vague reading.

For Task Two (example for 1): "Mom, as someone who has studied ethical tattooing practices for over a year and understands the safety protocols of reputable tattoo artists, I can assure you getting a tattoo from [reputable artist name] will be a safe and meaningful choice." This uses personal study/knowledge (establishing self - authority) to persuade.

Answer:

Task One:

1. Ethos? Yes; Explain: Leverages fatherly role (authority/care) for credibility.
2. Ethos? No; Explain: Vague "someone" lacks credibility.
3. Ethos? Yes; Explain: Cites Harvard professors (academic authority).
4. Ethos? Yes; Explain: Uses dentists' (expert) authority.
5. Ethos? No; Explain: Vague source, no credibility.

Task Two (Sample for 1):

"Mom, as someone who has studied ethical tattooing practices for over a year and understands the safety protocols of reputable tattoo artists, I can assure you getting a tattoo from [reputable artist name] will be a safe and meaningful choice."