11.4: Rhetorical Triangle
Over 2,300 years ago, the Greek philosopher Aristotle developed a three-pronged strategy for persuading others. He suggested that speakers employ a careful balance of all three vertices of his rhetorical triangle to achieve effective and successful persuasion. He labeled the three elements of that triangle as ethos , pathos , and logos , which students have probably encountered before in a writing class at some point. Looking at each concept individually will help demonstrate how each fits together with respect to persuasion in oral communication.