Rhetorical triangle
A framework for analysing persuasive texts based on three elements: ethos (credibility/character), logos (logic/reasoning), and pathos (emotion/emotional appeal).
Real World
In Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, King uses ethos (his status as a civil rights leader), logos (citing the Declaration of Independence), and pathos (vivid imagery of racial injustice) simultaneously to maximise persuasive force.
Exam Focus
For each appeal you identify, quote evidence and explain how it positions the audience — analysing all three shows sophisticated understanding of persuasive strategy.
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