Week 6 - Ethos
Overview
This week we are starting a new unit on deliberative writing. Review Week 2 if you've forgotten what that is.
We are also shifting our focus to another persuasion strategy: ethos. Ethos represents the writer or rhetor's pole of the rhetorical triangle, and we often talk about it as being the credibility of the writer. But ethos is really all about the relationship between the writer and audience. We establish credibility, in part, because we understand and care about what the audience values.
As we will read in Thank You, there is some vocabulary to learn when talking about ethos, in particular the concepts of
- decorum
- virtue
- craft
- disinterest
Pay special attention to these words as you read and make sure you understand what they mean.
Resources
1. Read the instructions for the deliberative argument assignment under the "Major Assignments" tab.
2. Watch this video from Heinrichs' Arguelab:
3. Read Chapters 5 - 7 in Thank You for Arguing (on-campus class: read 5 & 6 for Monday and 7 for Wednesday).
Activities
- Online only: Participate in a check-in Tuesday discussion in Bb.
- Online only: Participate in Discussion 6.1 in Blackboard. Start by Thursday, Feb. 28, and finish by Sunday, March 3.
- Both classes: Start thinking about topics for your deliberative argument. Know for sure by Sunday.