Technical Blog

For as long as I could remember, the first time I heard a rhetoric statement was on an episode of Family Matters. One of the cast members asked a question that was seemingly sarcastic and does not require a response. The question asked was "Did I do that?" by none other than Steve Urkel. He would repeat this line as least once every episode. Now that I had more knowledge on the subject, I realized that the use of rhetoric fits in everyday life and every imaginable situation. Persuasion can be achieved through sarcasm, serious, or even a vindictive tone.

Breaking down the rhetoric of persuasion yields three main key points: pathos, ethos, and logos. Any statement that causes an emotional response from the audience is considered pathos. If the statement was to establish credibility (an ego) of the writer/speaker it is considered to be ethos. Lastly, if the statement is trying to get you to think reason, the statement is using logos. Any persuasions we see in can only exist within these three key points. What I'm curious about is if pathos, ethos, and logos can be combined into one statement, therefore amplifying its effectiveness.