Speak up! 5. Speaking persuasively: The appeal to Ethos, Pathos and Logos.

5. Speaking persuasively: The appeal to Ethos, Pathos and Logos

Ethos, Pathos and Logos

Ethos, Pathos and Logos

When you speak in public—especially in fields like engineering or telecommunications—it’s not enough to simply present facts. To truly persuade, you need to connect with your audience, build credibility, and make your ideas resonate.

This is where Aristotle’s three rhetorical appeals come in:

  • Ethos – credibility: Why should the audience trust you?

  • Pathos – emotion: How can you make them care?

  • Logos – logic: How can you make your argument clear and convincing?

Used together, ethos, pathos, and logos help you communicate ideas in a way that is both rational and compelling—making your message not just heard, but remembered.

Ethos: The appeal to Credibility

ETHOS

Ethos is about building trust and authority. The audience asks: "Why should I listen to you?"

You build ethos by:

  • Showing expertise or experience

  • Speaking with confidence and clarity

  • Dressing and behaving professionally

  • Citing reliable sources or institutions

 

Examples

General:
“I’ve worked in network security for 10 years, and today I’ll explain how to protect systems from cyber threats.”

Engineering Context:
“As an electrical engineering student involved in a 5G deployment project, I’ve seen how antenna tuning affects signal quality.”

  Build your Ethos

Write a 2–3 sentence introduction for a technical topic. Use at least one strategy to show why you’re credible to speak about it.

Prompt Examples:

  • “Why I can speak on fiber optics”

  • “My experience with IoT projects”

  • “Working on AI systems at university”

Pathos: The appeal to Emotion

Pathos

Pathos appeals to the audience’s emotions—like curiosity, fear, hope, or excitement.

Use pathos to:

  • Connect your topic to human experience

  • Tell a personal story or scenario

  • Use vivid language or striking statistics

Examples

General:
“Imagine losing contact with your family in a disaster because the network failed. That’s the reality for many in rural areas.”

Telecom Context:
“Every second counts in an emergency. 5G enables ambulances to stream patient data live to hospitals—this can save lives.”

  Make it matter

Choose a technical concept (e.g., 5G, AI, smart homes). Write 2–3 sentences that appeal to emotion.

Challenge: Try to make the reader feel:

  • Concerned (for a problem)

  • Inspired (by a solution)

 

Logos: The appeal to Logic

Logos

Logos appeals to reason. It’s about presenting a clear, logical case using:

  • Facts and statistics

  • Cause-effect reasoning

  • Comparisons, definitions, and examples

General:
“According to Cisco, internet traffic will triple by 2025. That’s why we need better infrastructure now.”

Engineering Context:
“Using fiber optics reduces signal loss over distance. While copper cables degrade after 100 meters, fiber maintains quality over several kilometers.”

  Explain logically

Instructions: Choose a technical claim (e.g., “Fiber is better than copper”). Write 2–3 sentences to support it using facts or logic.

Checklist:

  • Did I explain cause-effect or comparison?

  • Did I include a fact, number, or example?

 Ethos, Pathos or Logos? Classify

Terms

Ethos
    Pathos
      Logos

          Appeal Remix Challenge

        1.- Choose one technical statement from this list:

        Example Prompt 1: We should invest in fiber optic infrastructure.

        Example Prompt 2: AI can improve emergency response times.

        Example Prompt 3: We need stronger cybersecurity in smart home devices.

        Example Prompt 4: Renewable energy should be integrated into telecom towers.

         

        2.- Rewrite the message three times, each time emphasizing a different rhetorical appeal:

        Ethos – Establish your credibility or authority

        Pathos – Create an emotional connection

        Logos – Use facts, logic, or reasonin

         

        3.- Compare and discuss how each version feels and functions.

        • Which version (ethos, pathos, logos) felt most persuasive to you?

        • Which appeal comes most naturally to you as a speaker?

        • How could you combine all three in a real presentation?

        Analyzing TED Talks for Rethorical Appeals

          Sasha Luccioni - AI is dangerous but not for the reasons you think

          Gary Marcus.- The urgent risks of runaway AI — and what to do about them

          Post-Watching

        • Ethos:

          • How did each speaker establish credibility?

          • Did one seem more trustworthy or authoritative? Why?

        • Pathos:

          • What emotional appeals stood out to you?

          • Which talk made you feel more, and why?

        • Logos:

          • What logical arguments or data did they use?

          • Which speaker made the stronger factual case?