In the rhetorical analysis assignment, you will be expected to
demonstrate an understanding that every text is created for a
unique situation and audience. You will need to act on this by
analyzing the decisions made by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) on their website about ADHD. This includes
the persuasive appeals the CDC uses.
Aristotle believed that speakers and writers used three kinds of
persuasive appeals. Logos is an appeal to the audience’s powers
of reason or logic. Pathos is an appeal to emotions or senses.
Ethos is the personal appeal, charisma, or credibility of the
speaker or writer. These three appeals are known as the
rhetorical triangle because all three sides work together to make
a text effective or not.
In your own words, explain the concepts of pathos, logos, and
ethos and why they are important appeals to recognize in a text.
Next, use the CDC's page about ADHD to analyze the ethos,
logos, and pathos in the document.
Consider the following questions in your response:
What do you think about the logic presented in the
document?
What do you think about its emotional appeal
What about its appeal to authority or credibility?
Does the CDC effectively present each of the rhetorical
appeals? Why or why not?