Ethos Pathos and Logos Essay Example
Ladon Carter
Kelly E. Gehlhoff
English 101: Composition I
7 June 2013
“Strut It Out”: A Rhetorical Analysis of a Nike Ad According to Faigley and Selzer rhetorical analysis can be defined as “an effort to understand how people attempt to influence others through language and more broadly every kind of important symbolic action.” In other words rhetoric is a language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience in order for a goal to be met. The history of persuasion can be dated back to Ancient Greeks and Aristotle who were the first known to have studied logic and persuasion. These are techniques still heavily used in contemporary society today whether it be in every day conversation or in advertisements on television. All too often in contemporary American society companies use a group of appeals to persuade an audience. These very effective appeals are known as ethos, pathos and logos. Using these appeals, one can capture the audiences’ emotion all in an attempt to persuade an audience to buy into what they are saying and purchase a product. As a college athlete I find myself paying close attention to athletic commercials and advertisements. The example that will be used for this assignment will be the Nike advertisement “Strut”. In this ad the product Nike is trying to persuade the audience to purchase is an all conditioned gear shoe. This is a product that Nike claims will not only meet the need of the everyday athlete but also the athlete that is touch with nature and loves to be outdoors. According to the ad Nike has produced a shoe that is a necessity for any outdoorsman who is in touch with nature. The ad states “Don’t pity the trout, get in there with it.” This ad is a prime example of Nike using the appeals of ethos, pathos and logos to convince an audience to buy a product.
Carter pg 2 Ethos according to Merriam-Webster is the “distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person,
Kelly E. Gehlhoff
English 101: Composition I
7 June 2013
“Strut It Out”: A Rhetorical Analysis of a Nike Ad According to Faigley and Selzer rhetorical analysis can be defined as “an effort to understand how people attempt to influence others through language and more broadly every kind of important symbolic action.” In other words rhetoric is a language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience in order for a goal to be met. The history of persuasion can be dated back to Ancient Greeks and Aristotle who were the first known to have studied logic and persuasion. These are techniques still heavily used in contemporary society today whether it be in every day conversation or in advertisements on television. All too often in contemporary American society companies use a group of appeals to persuade an audience. These very effective appeals are known as ethos, pathos and logos. Using these appeals, one can capture the audiences’ emotion all in an attempt to persuade an audience to buy into what they are saying and purchase a product. As a college athlete I find myself paying close attention to athletic commercials and advertisements. The example that will be used for this assignment will be the Nike advertisement “Strut”. In this ad the product Nike is trying to persuade the audience to purchase is an all conditioned gear shoe. This is a product that Nike claims will not only meet the need of the everyday athlete but also the athlete that is touch with nature and loves to be outdoors. According to the ad Nike has produced a shoe that is a necessity for any outdoorsman who is in touch with nature. The ad states “Don’t pity the trout, get in there with it.” This ad is a prime example of Nike using the appeals of ethos, pathos and logos to convince an audience to buy a product.
Carter pg 2 Ethos according to Merriam-Webster is the “distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person,