The Annual Address written by Joseph Jackson discusses the issues of discrimination and racism. It was written and delivered at the 84th Annual Session of the National Baptist Movement. Persuading the audience is not an easy job. However, having knowledge of what you are talking about, making personal connections, and having a good reputation as a writer or a speaker may not only persuades the audience but empower and inspire, just like how Jackson wrote his Annual Address. Jackson went beyond thinking inside the box, he used different modes of persuasion: logos, pathos, and ethos to convince his fellow Negroes to take action and fight for equality and freedom. We will be examining the context of this speech and Jackson’s perspective and …show more content…
This short excerpt from the speech reveals the one of the main points that Jackson is trying to persuade his audience. The purpose of his writing was to empower the black people to continue to fight for justice and freedom, and also to give advice for the future. The following paragraphs will be an evaluation of how logos, pathos, and ethos are used and applied in his writing, and how it affects the writing and effectiveness to the audience.
Logos, pathos, and ethos have been utilized in writing from history to current day writing and literature. The three elements are called modes of persuasion that are used to convince the audience. We will be evaluating how Jackson used logos, pathos, and ethos to make his writing more convincing and appealing to his audience. To begin with, we will be examining logos used in writing.
Logos is the appeal to logic, means to convince an audience by use of logic or reason. There are many examples of logos in the Annual Address, here are a few: “The Declaration of Independence and the Federal Constitution were the results of our fathers’ attempts to put on paper the ideals that inspired the birth of the nation, and those principles by which and on which the nation was erected and sustained” (Jackson). “The civil rights struggle then is not a struggle to negate the high and lofty philosophy of
Aristotle came up with three appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos, all of which are found in all forms of writing, speeches, movies, television shows, and life within itself. Frederick Douglass used all three of these rhetoric devices in writing his narrative to tell about both his life as an American slave and his cause over ten decades ago. He uses these devices to identify himself to the readers, to bring emotion out of the readers, and to persuade the readers.
Throughout A Letter From Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. reveals many challenges facing the African American community regarding criticism and racism and that the ultimate goal is to bring equality to America. He provides not only his own option, but reasons to support his thoughts. By finding the ethos, pathos, and logos in the letter, it is clear that this is written so that the form, influences the content of the piece. He wrote this in an honest, logical, and peaceful manner, but wanted to get his point across in a non-violent way in hopes to change people’s views on racism.
Logos is a literary device that can be defined as a statement, sentence or argument used to convince or persuade the targeted audience. An example from Franklin Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941- - a date which will live in infamy- - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” When Roosevelt says this he is saying that he believes the logical thing to do is to go to war with Japan. Another example from George Bush’s 9/11 Address to the Nation is “America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world.” Bush believes this is logical because America is known for its freedom and opportunities which becomes a target for terrorism. “Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at and around the world from further attacks” is another example from the 9/11 Address to the Nation. In this Bush is saying the logical thing to do which is to help the wounded first. Another example of logos from the 9/11 speech is “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings but they cannot touch the foundation of America.” Bush is trying to say that America is a morally strong country and will not be hurt by this but will only become
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr extensively establishes his ethos and proves his authority on the matter of racial injustice. “I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty-five affiliated organizations across the South, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights” (King 1). King was the focal point of the Civil Rights movement and continues to symbolize the equality of all races to this very day. His authority to advocate on the
Writers use pathos, ethos, and logos in their writing to appeal to their audience. Pathos is an appeal to emotions, ethos is an appeal to trust, and logos is an appeal to reasoning or logic. Frederick Douglass's, " What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" is about his views and the views of many slaves towards the Fourth of July. He uses ethos, pathos, and logos effectively to convey his central message.
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. resolutely responds to eight clergymen who question his methods of protest against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Specifically, in paragraphs 12-14, Dr. King explains why his protests are indeed being done in a timely manner to obtain the “constitutional and God-given rights” (A Portable Anthology, page 207) that Africans have been restricted of for over 340 years. Dr. King’s argument, combined with his strategic use of rhetorical devices to enhance it, helps create a palpable feeling of understanding that captivates the audience into seeing America through his vision.
Have you ever thought of being on the run from an intense army ? Well , in this speech from Chief Joseph , he explains how is army has been killed and majority of his people have ran away to the hills because of the cold weather upon them. He is also worried because the young men now have to step up and lead the chiefs in an innovative direction. This has put him in a heartfelt situation where he now wants to put a cease to fighting , and find his children for the good of his sake. In contrast , he uses three rhetorical devices to release his thoughts and feelings from the outcome from fighting.
In Neil Postman’s novel, Amusing Ourselves to Death, he argues that rationality in America has become dictated by television. Through the use of ethos, pathos, and logos, Postman demonstrates that his claim is valid and reliable. These are three forms of persuasion that are used to influence others to agree with a particular point of view. Ethos, or ethical appeal, is used to build an author’s image. Ethos establishes a sense of credibility and good character for the author (Henning). Pathos, or emotional appeal, involves engaging “an audience's sense of identity, their self-interest, their emotions” (Henning). If done correctly, the power of emotions can allow the reader to be swayed to agree with the author. Logos, or logical appeal,
Many writers use several diverse ways to persuade readers into believing them. Some writers may tell a story, provide facts and information, or other ideas to encourage his or her reader to agree with the argument. Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle describes three diverse appeals: logos, pathos, and ethos. Logos is based on facts and reasons explaining logical arguments that rely on information and evidence. Logos is built with enough evidence, data, statistics, and reliable information. Another type of appeal is pathos, which attracts the reader’s emotions and feelings into the work. Many writers who use pathos tend to write about their personal experience and by diction and tone. In addition to logos and pathos, ethos corresponds with
“When you use logos, you are persuading with logic based on evidence and your skills of reason”(study.com). In Donald Trump’s inaugural speech, logic is rarely present.
Martin Luther King’s use of Pathos and Logos in “I have a Dream” showcases how he uses the devices to inspire others, compared to how he uses these rhetorical devices in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” to persuade the Clergymen. Martin Luther King, also referred to MLK, uses both Pathos and Logos to fit the audiences and occasions for each text. His uses of Pathos and Logos in these two texts are examples of how words can inspire change.
Logos means reason. Martin Luther King Jr. uses logos to show why he is delivering this speech and why he wants things to change. He is delivering this speech to show how many blacks and other races, that weren’t being treated equally, really didn’t have freedom like they should. “It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro.” (King, M. L. Jr. (1963, Aug.28) Para 6) “Instead of honoring the sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’” (King, M. L. Jr. (1963, Aug.28) Para 5) These quotes are just a couple of the logos quotes Martin Luther King said in his speech.
In 1963, minister and rights activist, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech in front of Lincoln memorial to bring awareness to the unfairness of injustice for black people. King's speech was an effort to try and mandate the coming together of the black and white race and finally have the equality between us all be put into force for a free nation. As the speech left King’s mouth and entered 250,000 citizens ears, it left them to think about what point he was trying to make because he uses pathos, logos, and ethos.
Logos is defined as an appeal to logic. I feel like he uses this the most out of all of the other ones because this speech is meant to appeal to logic because it is reasons on why we need to end the war. The first time he uses logos is when he starts talking about why we are in need of peace. In the speech he says “We entered this war because violations of our right had occured…” (1). I feel like this is a logical explanation as to why people go to war and why this war had begun. Therefore, it appeals to your logic.
Aristotle’s ethos, pathos, and logos were widely known and used in ancient times. Martin Luther King Jr. used ethos, pathos, and logos in his “Letter form Birmingham Jail”; this is his most powerful and moving piece of work. It is remarkable how we are able to see how effectively ethos, pathos, and logos have been used in recent years in history. MLK used them to appeal to the readers and persuade them to act in his favor on the argument. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” I saw all three, but the one that attracted the readers heart and jerked on emotions most was pathos. Emotion often times brings people to action. It makes them relate in an emotional way. This one excerpt did and excellent job at persuading the audience by using pathos.