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WRT 101 - East (Kraus) Writing I: Welcome

Argument/Persuasion Paper

This guide is intended as a starting place for research for  Kathleen Kraus's WRT 101 Class.

You will be working on a documented argument/persuasion essay on a specific controversial topic that includes...

  • A documented argument/persuasion essay. 

The above tabs are arranged to guide you through the steps of the research process.  They'll lead you to reference tools for basic background information, library books for a more in-depth look at your topic, journal articles, and additional links to help you to write your paper and cite your sources, such as...  

  • How to choose and search the library's article databases.
  • How to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources on the web.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your feindly neighborhood librarian.

The Art of Rhetoric: Logos, Ethos, Pathos

About 2400 years ago the Greek philosopher Aristotle coined three forms of rhetoric - logos, ethos and pathos - that are prevalent in almost all arguments.

Ethos (Credibility), or ethical appeal, is appeal based on the character of the speaker. One way to do this is to build a case for your authority on the topic.

Pathos (Emotional) is an appeal to the reader’s emotions. One way to do this is to include research that will trigger emotional involvement in your topic.

Logos (Logical) is appeal based on logic or reason. Logos necessitates a well researched and well supported essay that reaches a logical conclusion based on the evidence.