Rhetorical Triangle

The Rhetorical Triangle

http://www.public.asu.edu/~jvanasu/rhet-triangle.htm

LOGOS (idea, message)
PATHOS (force, emotion) ETHOS (form, manner)

Every communication is essentially a trilateral relationship.  Each point of the triangle influences the others, and all are influenced by the context of the communication.  Each point of the triangle bears some responsibility for the success of the communication, and each point of the triangle corresponds with one of Aristotle's three appeals (i.e., general means of persuasion). 

Rational Appeals (logos)	Emotional Appeals (pathos)	Ethical Appeals (ethos)
appeal to logical reasoning ability of readers ·       facts ·       case studies ·       statistics ·       experiments ·       logical reasoning ·       analogies ·       anecdotes ·       authority voices	appeal to beliefs and feelings higher emotions ·      belief in fairness ·      love ·      pity ·      etc. lower emotions ·      greed ·      lust ·      revenge ·      etc.	sense you (author) give as being competent/fair/authority ·       trustworthiness ·       credibility ·       reliability ·       expert testimony ·       reliable sources ·       fairness Think of how one speaks to an opponent: For example on the floor of the Senate in heated debate the speaker would refer to "My honorable opponent." This is why one refers to the "manner of delivery."