Your Name: Pankti Shah

Prof DeTora WSC 1 Summer 2018

Word count: 1500

1.Introduction

Rhetoric is the art of conveying effectively which is utilized to persuade people. Ethos, pathos, and logos
are the essential components of rhetoric. In this paper, I want to start briefly explaining the uses of
rhetoric, understanding of basic elements with a related example from Sherlock and then provide a
recent personal example.

2.Uses of Rhetoric

Rhetoric is extensively used in every field. At large scale, it is used in the advertisements to attract
consumers, by a politician to attract voters, by movie and TV series episode directors to attract viewers,
by researchers to obtain grants, by the government for enforcement of law and regulations. At a smaller
scale, it is used among family member and friends to reach to a conclusion and in the academic life
between professors and student. Not only that, but rhetoric is also used at self-level. For example, After
I had deep thinking to find out where else we use rhetoric, I realized that our mind uses them during
thought contemplation. For instance, I went to buy grocery today. I took my favorite cookies from a
rack. Then, I had a second thought about not buying them. Now when I was writing this article, I realized
how my mind tricked me. I purchased that cookie as my mind used logos to tell me that it is sugar-free,
ethos to tell me that I will buy only once a month and pathos to tell me that how much I enjoy them.

3. Essential components of rhetoric: definitions and example from Sherlock’s first episode

3.1 Ethos

Ethos is about building trust and credibility. In the simple term, when the author is using it, he is trying
to convince the audience to believe what is saying because he is a good guy. (1) Trust and credibility can
be established by mentioning expertise in the related field or focusing on the author’s character. For
example, products endorsed by celebrities or dentist’s recommendations for specific toothpaste.

Ethos was used in many instances in the first episode of Sherlock. For example, if we go back to the
scene where Sherlock and John, were in the car heading towards the crime scene. At this point, John
had many questions in his mind. John was recently stunned when he saw investigating inspector
Lestrade personally came to meet Sherlock. Besides inspector Lestrade requested Sherlock’s help to
investigate a prominent crime case. John surprisingly asked Sherlock, ‘who are you and what do you
do’? (2). Until now, Sherlock homes did not introduce himself to him. Mr. Watson thought that he is just
like another private detective. At this point, Sherlock introduced himself modestly by saying that ‘I’m a
consulting detective. Only one in the world. I invented the job’ (2).

In the above paragraph, ethos concept is illustrated splendidly. We saw how the character of Inspector
Lestrade was used to build trust and credibility of Sherlock. It was nicely portrayed how senior crime
police inspector came to Sherlock’s home. That shows how much Sherlock is respected and known.
Second, he requested Sherlock to help with the investigation. That shows how great Sherlock is as a
detective. Thus, the background was created to introduce Sherlock. That was when he said that ‘I’m a
consulting detective. Only one in the world. I invented the job (2).’

3.2 Logos

Logos is the reasoning and logic behind the text. In simple term, when an author uses logos, he wants
the audience to believe him as his arguments are well supported by logic and facts. The author also
frequently uses data to support arguments (1). For example, to mention product’s features as in
advertisement or statistics like 70 % of users recommend this product.

There were plenty of examples where Sherlock used logos. My favorite example is when John made
Sherlock a slight upset. They were in a car heading towards the crime scene. He saw how detective
inspector Lestrade came to Sherlock’s home and requested to join for crime investigation. He was still
not satisfied with Sherlock’s abilities. John initially said that that police do not go to private detectives
and soon he told Sherlock that police don’t consult amateurs. After hearing this Sherlock was upset, he
then explained to him the reasoning behind how he was able to conclude about his past and profession
as well as his psychosomatic limp and phone. John was left amazed after this discussion between him
and Sherlock. In the example above, it is obvious how Sherlock was able to win arguments and impress
John.

In another instance, inspector Lestrade used logos. In the first episode where he was holding a press
conference to discuss three mysterious killings in the London city. He believed those were suicides and
was trying to convince all press reporters to understand him by using inductive reasoning technique. He
connected all information to conclude as follow ‘Well, they all took the same poison; they were all found
in places they had no reason to be; none of them had shown any prior indication of’ (2).

3.3 Pathos

Pathos stimulates emotions in the audience. In the simple term, when an author is using pathos, he
wants to give pause to your thinking and to connect directly to your heart. When used appropriately,
pathos can create any form of emotions in the audience like sympathy, anger, happiness, sadness. For
example, sex appeal during branding of products or showing ill kids photo for collecting funds for the
pediatric hospital.

Sherlock’s first episode starts with an emotional appeal. It began with a war situation where John’s team
was under fire. Then it turned into a nightmare and woke up extremely frightened. John was unable to
sleep afterward. Later, his room was displayed where an audience can see his cane and his empty blog
on a computer screen. These were done to make emotional connections with the audience to win their
sympathy. In another example, Inspector Lestrade mentioned to Sherlock Holmes ‘Yes I do. God, please
help me’. His tone was emotional when he said that. Inspector Lestrade was trying to get Sherlock’s help
for the criminal case. On the other side, Sherlock was breaking all the rules including he brought John
with him. Furthermore, he asked John to examine the pink lady. Inspector Lestrade was frustrated by
this but uttered those words when Sherlock reminded him that Inspector Lestrade needs him.
4. A recent example from personal life

I recently used rhetoric to get organic chemistry class for the fall semester. In the background, I was
scheduled for physics, biology and calculus class for the fall semester. I am planning to give a medical
school entrance exam at the end of this year. It is not possible to succeed in the entrance exam without
organic chemistry class. I was earlier informed by organic chemistry professor that I won’t be able to
take organic chemistry along with physics and biology as it would be excessive for any student. After I
learned the concept of persuasion using rhetoric, I went back to the organic chemistry department and
succeeded to get into an organic chemistry class in fall. I took help of my chemistry professor to
establish trust and credibility. He discussed with the organic chemistry professor about my grade and
hard work. Later, using logos, I mention to organic chemistry professor that I learned biology in depth
during medical school in India so that I will be able to focus on other subjects. In the end, I added a pinch
of pathos. I explained to him about my situations that I am an old graduate and how I would lose an
extra year if I don’t complete an organic chemistry class in the fall. With this, I was able to win the
sympathy from a professor.

5. Conclusion

This English composition assignment was beneficial to get an understanding of ethos, pathos, and logos
in depth. Initially, I felt that ethos, pathos, and logos are equally essential and powerful. Their
superiority depends on needs and situations. However, credibility and sympathy would not be enough if
we don’t have the content or could not relate to your audience. Nowadays, people are smarter,
educated and have internet access. Considering this fact, Logos is a more powerful tool to persuade your
audience in today’s world. For example, ethos is used in the advertisement where branding would be
done by using a celebrity’s status, however, to sell iPhone you can use logos more effectively by
explaining its powerful function and features. Similarly, sex appeal is used lately at a continually
increased rate for branding. Even so, it would be unsuccessful at longer term if the product lacks content
and originality. Nevertheless, ethos pathos and logos supplement each other and if the trios used
together would be more superior.

References

1. Purdue Writing Lab. Aristotle's Rhetorical Situation / Retrieved July 31, 2018, from
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/rhetorical_situation/aristotles_rhetorical_situation.html

2. Sherlock BBC- A Study in Pink. (2010). season1, episode 1, Netflix.