I.2 Use appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos in persuasive writing

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that hospitals should serve more nutritious food?

A patient can hardly be expected to experience better health after eating a plate of french fries so oily they leave grease spots on the bed sheets.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that companies should not be allowed to market products to children?

Advertising research suggests that children have difficulty distinguishing between product advertisements and entertainment content.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that people should support locally owned businesses?

Although corporate chain stores may offer customers wider selections and bigger discounts, locally owned businesses are more likely to offer personalized services and to support their local communities.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that all high school students should have summer jobs?

As a busy high school student, I know that the time management skills I developed at my summer job help me on a daily basis.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that plastic water bottles should be banned?

As a lifelong environmentalist, I aim to make ecologically responsible choices whenever possible. This is why I avoid disposable water bottles.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that economic competition is necessary for a productive society?

As the influential economist Adam Smith asserted, healthy economic competition and free markets help foster a productive, more efficient society.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that reality television has little artistic value?

Because reality television shows generate massive audiences and are relatively cheap and easy to produce, it is evident that their producers have little incentive to make these show artistically compelling

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that to improve their health, people should stand more and sit less?

By now, most people have heard the news that sitting for long periods of time is not just mildly unhealthy but can actually be deadly.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that celebrities should be more involved in politics?

Celebrity activists can make a world of difference in raising awareness of and support for the world's most exploited, abused, and needy.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that CEO compensation should be taxed more heavily?

Executive compensation has risen more than nine hundred percent over the past thirty-seven years, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that anonymity on the Internet causes people to behave badly?

Facing no repercussions for their heinous acts, anonymous provocateurs are free to attack, mock, or threaten anyone they desire.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos to support the position that the American Dream is no longer attainable for most people?

For many people, life is an ongoing struggle simply to survive and pay the bills; for these people, to contend that the American Dream is still possible is a slap in the face.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that the most important skill that employees must learn is the ability to work in a team?

Granted, individual talent plays a role in a person's professional success, but I would argue that cooperation and teamwork are even more important since most jobs require us to work effectively with others.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that wearable fitness trackers can improve people's health?

Imagine seeing your step count at the end of each day, feeling triumphant when you hit a lofy goal and determined to work harder when you fall short.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that Shakespeare is an essential part of the high school curriculum?

In my work as a screenwriter, I am frequently inspired by the complex plots, ethical conundrums, and timeless themes that are featured in Shakespeare's plays.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that public school students should be required to wear uniforms?

Like many of you, I disliked wearing a uniform in high school; I now realize, however, that wearing the uniform helped me focus on my schoolwork rather than on my clothes.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that Americans place too much emphasis on self-reliance and not enough on community?

Like most suburbanites, I live in a house with its own yard and fences between my neighbors' properties and mine, which effectively discourages the use of shared space and frequent communication.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that multitasking is harmful and interferes with people's productivity?

Looking at university students who often juggled several different social media platforms, researchers found a positive correlation between multitasking and anxiety.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that unpaid internships are exploitative?

Many companies clearly take advantage of the youth and idealism of students and recent graduates by promoting the unpaid "learning experience."

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that high schools students shouldn't play tackle football due to the risk of dangerous head injuries?

Many parents unknowingly endanger the lives of their children by encouraging them to play football, and regardless of the reason, it is simply wrong.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that workplaces should encourage more creativity in their employees?

My workplace, like that of many office workers, seems devoid of the spirit of innovation and creativity, and my motivation suffers as a result.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that professional athletes should not be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs?

Performance-enhancing drugs have been shown to be unhealthy for those who take them, causing harmful side effects such as heightened aggression, heart palpitations, and hypertension.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that doctored photos of celebrities promote unrealistic

Retouched photographs of celebrities—especially those of women—pose a dangerous problem for children and young adults, who look at the photographs and aspire to impossibly stick-thin legs and eighteen-inch waists.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that colleges should not use standardized test scores as an admissions criterion?

Students are complex human beings, and reducing them to a mere number fails to acknowledge their full humanity.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?

Students who routinely skip breakfast suffer academically; they have great difficulty concentrating in class and consequently perform poorly in school.

Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that the winter holiday season has become too commercialized?

The crowded, chaotic shopping mall—filled with intense, headache-inducing lights and music—is a prime example of how holidays have become far too focused on material goods.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that people are too willing to go along with those in positions of authority?

The experiments of Stanley Milgram have shown that we often defer to authority figures, such as experimenters in lab coats, even when we're dubious about or uncomfortable with what they instruct us to do.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that keeping a journal can positively affect a person's happiness and health?

There is a significant body of research that supports the claim that expressive writing can be therapeutic and have short- and long-term positive effects.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that positive thinking contributes to overall emotional well-being?

Though some may dismiss optimism as naive, studies have shown that positive thinking is an integral part of stress management.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that students should have more physical activity throughout the school day?

We elementary school teachers know all too well how important recess is for young students who need to "shake the sillies out."

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that cooking is a valuable life skill that should be taught in school?

When it comes to cooking i side with the women's institute, which believes that more cooking instruction in schools can help reduce food waste at home.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that high school students should have fewer required classes and more electives?

While it is true that electives may not be explicitly academic, in reality, electives can still help students develop valuable skills, such as critical thinking and creativity.

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that achieving the American Dream is still possible in today's world?

While popular opinion may hold that the American economy is not what it used to be, critics should note that the American economy recovered more quickly from the recession of 2008 than did the economies of many other countries.

Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that people should take more preventative measures to protect themselves from identity theft?

Working in banking for the past two years has made me much more careful about protecting my Idenity, as my awareness of identity theft has increased

Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that athletes should remain loyal instead of switching teams?

You may be thinking that athletes should have the freedom to switch teams, just as business people have the freedom to switch jobs; however, athletes owe a certain loyalty to their fans, who often have strong feelings of national or regional pride.