AP Language and Composition - Argument Notes

Argument is a connected series of statements or propositions:

  • Some are intended to provide support, justification, or evidence for the truth of another statement or proposition
  • Usually arguments are written or verbal disputes
    • ad hominen arguments (against man): attacks the one on the other side, not their proposition, often happens in politics, weakens the credibility of the one presenting their argument
  • Arguments must have a premise and a conclusion

Elements to Arguments- ethos, pathos, logos:

  • Modes of persuasion to convince the audience that their points have validity
    • Often known as the “three artistic truths” - coined by Aristotle
    • Proper use of ethos, pathos, logos is necessary to create a valid and viable argument

Ethos:

  • Ethos refers to the Greek word for character, “ethics” derives from this word
    • the kind of person you are in terms of your personal integrity
  • Ethos convinces the audience that you are credible
  • Create Ethos by:
    • choosing language of an appropriate language for the audience and topic
    • make yourself sound fair and unbiased
    • introducing your expertise - be knowledgeable in your field
    • use correct grammar and syntax!

Pathos:

  • Pathos is the Greek word for suffering and experience, the words “empathy” and “pathetic” are derived from this word
  • Pathos is the emotional appeal of an argument
  • Used to evoke sympathy to make the audience feel something
    • often used to draw sympathy from the audience, a common tactic in charity marketing
  • Create pathos by:
    • using meaningful language and emotional tone
    • create emotion evoking examples
    • tell stories of emotional events with implied meanings

Logos:

  • Logos is the Greek word for “word”, but the definition often goes beyond that, the word “logic” is derived from this word
  • Logos is concrete fact that often changes an argument from your viewpoint to a universal viewpoint
  • Logos is the appeal to the mind based of logic and reason
  • Create Logos by:
    • citing facts and statistic, historical and literal analogies and citing authorities on a subject
    • using advanced, theoretical, or abstract language
    • constructing logical arguments

Syllogism:

  • Syllogism is a chain of reasoning, moving from a general universal set of rules or principles, to specific principles
  • if the major and minor premise is true, the syllogism is true
  • For example: people are mortal, Aristotle is a person, Aristotle is mortal
    • “people are mortal” would serve as the major premise, while “Aristotle is a person” would serve as the minor premise
  • An enthymeme is a syllogism that skips the major premise because it is universally assumed
    • Aristotle is mortal because he is a person - this skips the major premise because “people are mortal” is universally assumed to be true