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Year 11 English · Constructing arguments: ethos, pathos and logos

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

1. 'Research from a national survey found that 70 per cent of respondents supported the change.' This is mainly…
- ☐ (a) Pathos
- ☐ (b) Ethos
- ☐ (c) Logos
- ☐ (d) Rebuttal
2. 'As a doctor who has treated hundreds of heatstroke cases…' appeals mainly to…
- ☐ (a) Ethos
- ☐ (b) Logos
- ☐ (c) Pathos
- ☐ (d) Counterargument
3. 'Picture a frightened koala clinging to a blackened tree.' This appeal is…
- ☐ (a) Logos
- ☐ (b) Ethos
- ☐ (c) Rebuttal
- ☐ (d) Pathos
4. Why does including a rebuttal strengthen an argument?
- ☐ (a) It makes the text longer.
- ☐ (b) It shows fairness and answers objections before the audience raises them.
- ☐ (c) It agrees completely with the other side.
- ☐ (d) It avoids using evidence.
5. Who first described ethos, pathos and logos?
- ☐ (a) Shakespeare
- ☐ (b) Aristotle
- ☐ (c) Charles Dickens
- ☐ (d) Julius Caesar
6. Which appeal (ethos, pathos or logos) targets the audience's emotions? (one word)
7. What is a response that weakens an opposing argument called? (one word)
8. Which appeal (ethos, pathos or logos) is about the speaker's credibility? (one word)

Answer sheet

1. Logos — It uses statistical evidence to appeal to reason.
2. Ethos — The speaker establishes professional credibility.
3. Pathos — The vivid image is designed to provoke emotion.
4. It shows fairness and answers objections before the audience raises them. — Addressing objections builds credibility and closes logical gaps.
5. Aristotle — The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle described the three appeals in his work on rhetoric.
6. Pathos — Pathos appeals to emotion.
7. Rebuttal — A rebuttal answers a counterargument.
8. Ethos — Ethos builds trust in the speaker.