Understanding Pathos in Persuasion

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the use of pathos in persuasive arguments, including definitions, techniques, and the role of emotions in influencing audiences.

Pathos

An argument that appeals to the audience’s emotions.

Storytelling

A rhetorical technique that involves telling a narrative to evoke emotions in the audience.

Anecdote

A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

Emotional Volume Control

The practice of regulating the display of emotions in persuasion to enhance credibility.

Repetition

A persuasive technique where words or phrases are repeated to emphasize an idea.

Anadiplosis

The repetition of a word or words in successive clauses where the second clause starts with the same word that marked the end of the previous clause.

Antimetabole

The repetition of words in reverse order in a phrase or sentence.

Trigger Words

Words associated with specific emotions that can influence an audience's feelings.

Humor

A powerful rhetorical tool that can make an audience more receptive to persuasion.

Self-Control in Pathos

The ability to manage emotional expression effectively during persuasion.

Audience Identification

The process of recognizing shared values or emotions to connect with the audience.

Failproof Emotion

patriotism, emulation, desire, and anger

Emulation

Provide a role model that your audience admires as an example

Unannounced Emotion

You shouldn’t tell the audience what emotion you will evoke

Anaphora

Repeat the first part of a sentence.

Epistrophe

repeat the end of a sentence

diacope

A repetition of a phrase or word broken up by other intervening words

irony

A rhetorical device where there is a contrast between what is said and what is actually meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

ridicule

The subjection of someone or something to contemptuous and dismissive language or behavior.

sarcasm

The use of irony to mock or convey contempt, often by saying the opposite of what is meant.

analogy

A comparison between two different things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

metaphor

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, suggesting a resemblance without using 'like' or 'as'.

word choice

The deliberate selection of words to convey a specific meaning, tone, or effect in communication.

overstatement

The action of expressing something too strongly; exaggeration.

understatement

The presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is, often for ironic or humorous effect.

satire

The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

OPTIC

• Overview: Briefly summarize the image. What is the overall subject or topic?

• Parts: Identify key individual elements, objects, figures, or details within the image.

• Title/Text: Analyze the title of the image (if any) and any accompanying text, captions, or labels. How do they relate to the visual elements?

• Interrelationships: Consider the connections between the various parts. How do they interact? What relationships or contrasts are formed?

• Conclusion: Formulate a conclusion about the image's overall meaning, purpose, or message. What is the artist or creator trying to convey?

what to analyze in a picture

• Tone: author's attitude toward the subject/ artist's perspective on the issue

• Arrangement

  • Location - where is something placed

  • Scale - size of visual component

• Typography: The font size and font type

• Color: colors can have different meanings (connotation)

• Foreground & background

• Audience - targeted by author, designer, or creator

• Context - includes any background information that helps understand and analyze an image

• Purpose - overall goal for creating an image

• The rhetorical situation - ask journalistic questions (who, what, when, where, how, why)

verbal irony

A type of irony where a speaker says something but means the opposite, or when words express something contrary to truth.

situational irony

A type of irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

Dramatic irony

A literary device where the audience's or reader's knowledge of events or individuals surpasses that of the characters, creating a sense of anticipation or suspense.