Question

its focus on logos
logos is an appeal to logic; it is a means of convincing the audience through rational thought and reason.
how can you incorporate logos?

• you can use research and statistics to back up your arguments. (87% of students benefit from textbooks, so...)
• you can use logical processes to explain your point - if this, then that... (if you dont want gum disease, then you should brush regularly.)
• you must give convincing, solid evidence and reasons to support your claims. (i need a car if i would make me more independent; save me money; improve my life.)

why use logos? if you can present a logical, rational argument to your audience, which engages their intellect and sense of reason, they are more likely to be persuaded.
task one: for each of the following, explain whether or not you think that logos is being used effectively.

	explain
1. \all men and women will die. you are a man. therefore, you will die one day.\
2. \everyone has children. therefore, everyone needs to think about the schooling of his or her children.\
3. \you dont need to jump in front of a train to know its a bad idea; so why do you need to try drugs to know if theyre damaging?\
4. \cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. so why start smoking?\
5. \every morning the rooster crows, then the sun rises. therefore the rooster causes the sun to rise.\

task two: for each of the following scenarios, write your own persuasive sentences using logos:

1. you are trying to persuade your brother to stop eating chocolate.

1. you are attempting to convince your class that they shouldnt drink and drive.

1. you are trying to persuade an audience that they should exercise more often.

Explanation:

Task One:

1.

This is an effective use of logos. It uses a general truth (all men and women will die) and applies it to a specific case (you are a man), creating a logical syllogism.

2.

This is not an effective use of logos. The premise "Everyone has children" is false, so the argument built on it is not logical.

3.

This is an effective use of logos. It makes an analogy between the known - bad idea of jumping in front of a train and the idea of trying drugs, appealing to logical reasoning.

4.

This is an effective use of logos. It presents factual data (cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which cause cancer) to persuade against smoking.

5.

This is not an effective use of logos. It confuses correlation (rooster crows and sun rises) with causation (rooster causes the sun to rise), which is a logical fallacy.

Task Two:

1.

Chocolate is high in sugar, and excessive sugar intake can lead to tooth decay, weight - gain, and energy crashes. So, you should stop eating so much chocolate.

2.

Statistics show that drunk - driving is a leading cause of traffic accidents, and the consequences can be severe, including injury, death, and legal penalties. So, you shouldn't drink and drive.

3.

Regular exercise has been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve mental health, and increase lifespan. So, you should exercise more often.

Answer:

Task One:

1. Effective. Explanation: Uses logical syllogism with general and specific statements.
2. Not effective. Explanation: False premise.
3. Effective. Explanation: Logical analogy.
4. Effective. Explanation: Presents factual data.
5. Not effective. Explanation: Confuses correlation and causation.

Task Two:

1. Chocolate is high in sugar, and excessive sugar intake can lead to tooth decay, weight - gain, and energy crashes. So, you should stop eating so much chocolate.
2. Statistics show that drunk - driving is a leading cause of traffic accidents, and the consequences can be severe, including injury, death, and legal penalties. So, you shouldn't drink and drive.
3. Regular exercise has been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve mental health, and increase lifespan. So, you should exercise more often.