Ethos, the Art of Convincing

Artist often times try to make their audiences feel a certain way when the audiences look at the art. In chapter three, I feel like writing is shown as an art because of that exact reason. The writer has to make the audience believe that, they have authority to speak write on the subject, that the audience can trust the author, and that he or she has good motives about the subject. Looking at writing arguments in that way makes writing almost look like a magic trick. All smoke and mirrors.

Magic trick or not, to be an affect writer one must make sure that the audience understands his or her argument. When one understands where an argument originated he or she can more easily be swayed by the argument. That is one of the main parts that make up ethos.

We use ethos for almost ever decision we make. As the book says, “because life is complicated, we often need shortcuts to help us make choices. We can’t weigh ever claim to its last milligram or trace every fragment of evidence” (Lunsford 57). So we listen to what people say and “trust” them. However, first one must gain credibility to be largely believed.

In the movie “Thank you for Smoking” the main character is a lobbyist that uses his speaking to convince people that although smoking is not bad and there is no reason to band tobacco products. The movie is obviously taking a shot at tobacco companies that try to gain credibility through good speakers and convincing advertisement campaigns. The main character uses ethos to make the public agree to his point of view. 

Is a book explaining what an argument is, an argument?

My life has been filled with arguments. I knew that before I read chapter one of "Inventing Arguments." Now, however, it seems that ever word I speak is an argument! "People are surrounded by argument. It can be said that public life is an argument" (Argument 5). 

I read on only to discover that the meaning of argument that the authors are using differs from my own definition. When I personally think of arguments, I think of heated debates that often end in conflict of some kind. The definition the authors use is one where there is no conflict (war, physical fight...) but rather, the whole argument is centered on making the argument seem reasonable and acceptable.

Arguments come in all shapes and sizes. Rhetoric is the basis for all argument, according to the text. It is, “a process of recognizing and using the most effective strategies for influencing thought” (Argument 8). After reading the definition and information about rhetoric, I was almost enlightened. It is such a simple and logical idea though – arguing in the most efficient way for the argument. The whole concept of rhetoric shifts the purpose of an English or writing class away from the exactness of form writing and blends it with situational communication.

On an even deeper sense, rhetoric is the exploration of what makes a language mean what it means. It is really fascinating. I have never thought of an argument is such a way that I must go so deep into the situation in order to see the thoughts that the “reader” of my argument might be thinking and how I can manipulate those thoughts with my words.

I almost feel like a mad scientist controlling the minds of the people whole read my writing.

Writing Project 1:

For my WP1 I was considering looking into the argument behind some of the advertisement for SOPA and other recent controversies. 

  

About your's truely

Afternoon everybody,

My name is Michael. This is my first blog so if there are some problems, I ask that you just bare with me.

To tell everybody out there a little about myself, I’m from Orange County, California and, as one may be able to tell because of my title picture, I go to Arizona State University. Currently I am studying Biomedical engineering, and I am loving almost every minute here at Arizona State. I have learned to always have a plan in life, and although my graduation is still a few years away, after graduation I am planning on going to medical school. My top picks right now, obviously very tentative choices, are University of Pennsylvania and the University of California San Diego. Back to present time, I chose Arizona State because it is relatively close to my home in California, but far enough away that I can get a true “going away to university” experience. The main reason I chose ASU, however, was because the university just fit me. It is the biggest public research university in the United States, it has a warm climate, and it has a beautiful campus.

Heading back into my past in Orange County, I lived in a regular suburb house. Went to a regular suburban elementary, middle and high school. My schools’ may have been regular, but my experiences in them were far from regular. In my high school, I became strongly involved in my high school’s football team. I struggled through injuries and time commitments my first three years playing, but it all paid off my senior year. My high school football team became the city of Irvine, my hometown, champions.

Most of the seniors from my high school team and the "Fence Post Trophy"
Everybody is holding up "number 1" - City Champions

Even before my adventures through suburban housing and suburban schools, I lived in South Africa. My memories of living in South Africa have become more and more faded over the years but I can clearly remember one event. My family and I went to a game park a few hours from our prior residence in South Africa. While we were there, we went on a bike ride along the dirt paths. As we were riding, I wasn’t actually riding my own bike rather I was on my dad’s back, some giraffes stuck up behind us. My parents slowed down to get a better look once they had noticed them. All of a sudden the giraffe bent its long neck and licked my face. Fearing for my safety my parents quickly got away from the giraffes.

Well there is a little about me. I am a very open person and I enjoy talking as much as anything else in the world, so any questions, feel free to ask.

-Jubywrite