Improve your logic, or logos, by studying the arguments made by great thinkers in our time. Their use of logic demonstrates a successful application of rhetorical techniques. The words of great public speakers like Martin Luther King Jr. are filled with analogies that appeal to the logical side of people.
Learn to spot logical fallacies. A logical fallacy is the result of faulty reasoning or the misuse of rhetorical appeals. Many logical fallacies are based on personal assumptions, irrelevant data, appeals to fear and ignorance of opposing viewpoints.
Watch political speeches or advertisements and keep an eye out for words or phrases that draw on fear, loss, relationships or guilt to make a point. These demonstrate the use of pathos, or emotional appeal. What politicians and advertisers say to appeal to people's emotions is not always transparent, so look for subtle references to family, security and the fulfillment of happiness.
Improve your understanding of ethos, or the value of credibility, by paying more attention to what you use to judge character and how that affects your ability to be persuaded. Our judgments of character can be quick and subconscious. Therefore, you may need to dig deeper and figure out why you are more likely to believe one type of person over another.
Write with the aim of being persuasive on a regular basis. Improve your rhetoric by constructing logical arguments for both sides of an issue instead of just one.
Argue with people, not in a combative way, but as a means of engaging in friendly debate. Debating with others forces you to justify your opinions with solid arguments and thoughtful consideration, which are important components of rhetorical thought.