Identify ethos, pathos, logos, & kairos

Some questions to guide analysis of ethos

1. Find out about the author’s background, profession, previous work, etc.

2. Will the audience know who the writer is? If not, how does the writer signal her standing in a community or profession? How does the writer signal her expertise?

3. Does the writer seem knowledgeable? Honest? What makes you think so?

4. What/who does the writer like and dislike?

5. How might the writer’s status (inherited or invented) affect the audience’s willingness to believe, trust or identify with the writer?

6. Can you find places where the writer makes comments that indicate honesty, sincerity, fair-mindedness, expertise, likeability, moral vision etc.?

7. What does the author do to gain the respect and trust of the audience, and how well does she do this?

8. Can you find places where the writer makes concession to opposing arguments, indicating fair-mindedness, or an absence of this (indicating the author fails to acknowledge other points of view)?

9. Does the author explain how she came upon the evidence and support presented in her argument? (If she does not, this may undermine ethos).

10. Does the writer do things to show she shares values and background with the audience? How effective is this?

11. What seem to be the writer’s biases?

12. What seems to be the writer’s tone and mood? (angry, helpful, condescending, sarcastic, funny, etc.)

13. What would it be like to spend time in this writer’s company?

Some questions to guide analysis of pathos

1. What emotions does the author express?

2. How do word choice, examples, stories, categories, and descriptions express emotions?

3. What emotions does the author aim to cultivate in her audience in particular parts of the text?

4. How does she try to make us feel? How does this advance her purpose and her efforts at persuasion?

Some Questions to guide analysis of logos

1. What evidence does the writer present that seems logical?

2. Does the writer include any statistics or data to support their claims?

3. Does the argument make logical sense? Do they lead you to a logical conclusion?

4. Do you have a rational response to the information being presented?

Some questions to guide analysis of kairos

1. Does the writer use current information or are their examples outdated?

2. Why does the writer address the topic at the time they do?

3. When was the text published and how does that affect the message?

4. Does the author refer to specific time periods or dates?

Practice:
“The Boy Who Learned to Fly”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtujkNnCYCc

“Why America Isn’t The Greatest Country in the World Anymore”