How to Attach an Emotion to an Idea

Make an idea emotional is a common argumentative tactic known as pathos -- as opposed to ethos, an appeal to shared beliefs -- or logos, an appeal to logic. Pathos is commonly used in speeches, as well as persuasive writing, and can be very effective when used correctly. The key to pathos is that it seamlessly blends the idea with emotion; by the end of the speech or written piece, the audience will not just have the fact, but they will also be more likely to be stirred to action.

Instructions

    • 1

      Open with a strong image. When attaching an emotion to an idea, it is important to make that emotion strongly felt from the very beginning. For example, if you are writing about the plight of children in poor countries, you may want to start by describing the sort of circumstances that the child lives with every day.

    • 2

      Maintain the same level of emotional intensity when logic is introduced in to the argument. While the introduction and conclusion are primarily emotional, the bulk of the speech or written piece should be based on facts. However, to keep the emotional attached, you can comment on the facts as they fit your needs. For example, after mentioning that a high number of children live in poverty, you can say something like "this is unacceptable."

    • 3

      End strong. The conclusion is especially important in a pathos piece because this is where the strongest emotion should be felt; it ideally should stir the audience to action. For example, after talking about the plight of poor children -- perhaps repeating the same image from the introduction -- you can tell the audience that is it their responsibility to help their fellow human beings.

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