Essay 1—Emotional Appeals
In ENGL101, we will focus one of our writings on arguing for a change. When arguing for change, you must realize that a standard already exists regarding the topic: apathy, confusion, anger, shame. As a writer, it is your job to identify the current policy on the topic, analyze what works and what doesn’t, and focus on how to approach the issue based on how the public currently feels about it. Using emotions to persuade a reader is perfectly acceptable, if they are logical and straight-forward.
While pathos can be used to persuade an audience, if done incorrectly, it is a logical fallacy: meaning that the logic has errors in it. You want to persuade your readers with logical emotional appeals. Afterall, when a reader feels his emotions being tugged at, the first response is to turn off that guilt, shame, sympathy, and so on. However, if your emotional appeal is logical, the reader will have to accept his part in the issue and come to terms with how this makes him feel.
HOW DOES EMOTIONAL APPEAL PERSUADE?
Pathos represents an appeal to the emotions of an audience.
If an emotional appeal uses the manipulation of the emotions rather than valid logic to win an argument, then it is fallacious: logically flawed.
This improper use of an emotional appeal is a logical fallacy, whereby a debater attempts to win an argument by trying to get an emotional reaction from the opponent and audience without logically asserting that these emotions are valid. Be certain to review your textbook for help with appeals. You will want to use appeals properly, not fallaciously.
See the SlideShare presentation (on the next page) to assist in sorting your ideas, gathering support, and organizing your argument.
Navigate the Proposal Argument Booklet
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