The ability to properly use such tools of presenting information as logos, pathos and ethos is essential in academic research writing. The main ideas of scholarly articles are best supported by the balanced combination of all three ingredients of persuasion. The analysis of “An Argument in Favor of Capital Punishment” provides the multiple evidence of the effective implementation of ethos, pathos and logos supported the argumentation of the main idea and persuade reader to formulate the particular opinion regarding the issue of capital punishment (Jowett, O’Donnell 62).
Ethos is the ethical appeal that relates to the definition of the English term ethics and refers to the reliability of the author. Therefore, this technique is used in order to evoke trust between the narrator and the audience that stimulates interest in the statements and claims presented within the article (Jowett, O’Donnell 67).
One of the suitable examples is: “By examining the benefits of capital punishment in deterring crime and looking at the more philosophical issues of general punishment for murder it will be demonstrated how important it is for the nation to retain capital punishment” (p.1) The argument is supported by the evidence emerged from the research with the area. It also provides the indirect challenge to the people’s ethics with stress out on the personal philosophy and importance of capital punishment for the whole nation that is a reputable authority.
This statement is followed by the data research of the issue: “There are many statistics that point to the success of capital punishment” (p. 1). The reader may not be specialist in statistical researchers, by the argument supported by the reputable evidence stimulates the increase of trust towards the author.
Another effective method of ethos usage is implementation of the extensive research that can be seen in the following sentence: “With the data above it is conceivable to think how a potential murderer could witness an execution and then really get the message that it is a real and effective punishment” (p.2). Data support the argument that also underlies the ethical dimension of the issue.
Another important appeal is pathos that is connected with sympathy and empathy, as well as passion in general. Pathos can be easily recognized within the arguments that are based on the feelings the statement provokes, not the reliability of the arguments, data or supporting researchers.
Any emotions can be used to address to the reader: love, anger, patriotism, guilt or faith. “This has caused the public to grow more concerned about the crime and as a result more people have come to support capital punishment” is the passage that makes readers feel more concerned and worried about the crime rates within their country that is supported by the usage of terms that define community and unity with the rest of nation: “public” and “people support” (p. 2).
Another example is “Murder is a horrible crime and no matter how justified the murderer might have thought the reasons for the act were, he or she still committed the most grave crime of taking another person’s life” that creates the terrifying image of crime and stresses the feelings of justice and retribution towards the murderer (p. 3).
However, it is necessary to underline that pathos is not the most outstanding and powerful appeal that is used in this article. The key role here plays logos, the basic concept for the English term “logic”. It appeals to the intelligence of the reader and offers the series of reputable evidence that supports the arguments that are represented within the article (Gross, Gonchar 2014). The majority of everyday arguments rely heavily on ethos or pathos, although the academic arguments are closely connected with logos.
“Although rates have fallen slightly in recent years, “in 1994, public support for capital punishment peaked at around 80%” – clear statement, data that support it and accent on the bold logic of the reader (p. 2).
Another excellent example is the implementation of the objective and clear statement and the direct outcome of it: “We live in an increasingly complex and violent society and must keep capital punishment in place to deter future rising murder rates nationwide” (p. 3) All the strong sides of logos have been used in the article that supports its reliability and high academic value.
Works Cited
Gross, Sarah, Gonchar, Michael. “Skills Practice | Persuading an Audience Using Logos, Pathos and Ethos.” The New York Times. 2 2 Jan. 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014.
Jowett, Garth S.; O’Donnell, Victoria: Propaganda and Persuasion.CA: Thousand Oaks, 2006. Print.
