#TutoringTuesday Rhetorical Analysis: Ethos

When analyzing rhetoric, students want to look for the basic rhetorical appeals. Today we will look at ethos, which is the character of the writer. Who is the person speaking or writing? What do they know about their topic? What sort of values do they hold? The speaker or writer must establish their credibility on the matter. For example, you might establish trust with your patient by hanging your doctorate on the wall in your office. You attempt to establish your credibility with potential employers by providing a resume. Ethos is all about building trust. When writing a paper, properly citing your sources will establish your ethos as well. Remember that ethos is the speaker and their character. Come back next week to learn about pathos.