Aristotle's Triangle

Question 1

A speaker’s or author’s authority to express opinions on a subject.

Answer 1

Ethos

Question 2

“As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment will likely generate the best results.”

Answer 2

Ethos

Question 3

“If my years as a Marine taught me anything, it’s that caution is the best policy in this sort of situation.”

Answer 3

Ethos

Question 4

“He is a forensics and ballistics expert for the federal government - if anyone’s qualified to determine the murder weapon, it’s him.”

Answer 4

Ethos

Question 5

The emotional appeal used to persuade an audience to accept a certain point of view or opinion. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow. (What emotion would these examples evoke within you?)

Answer 5

Pathos

Question 6

“If we don’t move soon, we’re all going to die!”

Answer 6

Pathos

Question 7

“You’ll make the right decision because you have something that not many people do: you have heart.”

Answer 7

Pathos

Question 8

“After years of this type of disrespect from your boss, countless hours wasted, birthdays missed… it’s time that you took a stand.”

Answer 8

Pathos

Question 9

Logic used by a speaker/writer to support a claim or point of view.

Answer 9

Logos

Question 10

“The data is perfectly clear: this investment has consistently turned a profit year-over-year, even in spite of market declines in other areas.” (This sentence uses statistics to influence the audience.)

Answer 10

Logos

Question 11

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: we have not only the fingerprints, the lack of an alibi, a clear motive, and an expressed desire to commit the robbery… We also have video of the suspect breaking in. The case could not be more open and shut.” (This sentence clearly uses facts to persuade the audience.)

Answer 11

Logos

Question 12

“Doctors all over the world recommend this type of treatment.” (This sentence uses reasoning to influence the audience.)

Answer 12

Logos

Question 13

Reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case.

Answer 13

Deductive Reasoning

Question 14

All men are mortal. Joe is a man. Therefore, Joe is mortal.

Answer 14

Deductive Reasoning

Question 15

Bachelors are unmarried men. Bill is unmarried. Therefore, Bill is a bachelor.

Answer 15

Deductive Reasoning

Question 16

All numbers ending in 0 or 5 are divisible by 5. The number 35 ends with a 5, so it must be divisible by 5.

Answer 16

Deductive Reasoning

Question 17

Deriving general principles from particular facts or instances.

Answer 17

Inductive Reasoning

Question 18

“The coin I pulled from the bag is a penny. That coin is a penny. A third coin from the bag is a penny. Therefore, all the coins in the bag are pennies.”

Answer 18

Inductive Reasoning

Question 19

“Most of our snowstorms come from the north. It’s starting to snow. This snowstorm must be coming from the north.”

Answer 19

Inductive Reasoning

Question 20

“The left-handed people I know use left-handed scissors; therefore, all left-handed people use left-handed scissors.”

Answer 20

Inductive Reasoning

Question 21

The convergence of speaker (the persona adopted by the author to deliver his or her message; may or may not actually be the same person as the author), audience (who the author is directing his or her message toward), and purpose (the author’s persuasive intention).

Answer 21

Rhetorical Situation

Question 22

Using your opponent’s own argument to your advantage; agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point (but not in the larger argument).

Answer 22

Concession

Question 23

A teenager arguing to her parents that she needs a cell phone makes the following statement: I know that you think I will just use the phone to text during class and call friends instead of doing homework.

Answer 23

Concession

Question 24

A businessman making a proposal for a new skin product makes the following statement: This is a tough market, with many skin care products already out there. However, this product is different-it provides the same level of advanced skin care for a fraction of the cost.

Answer 24

Concession

Question 25

A politician arguing that his country needs to send troops into a warzone makes the following arguement: I know that any time we send troops into harm’s way, it is a risk that some will not come back. However, there are innocent women and children being murdered, and we cannot stand idly by. Our men and women wear the uniform for just such a time as this.

Answer 25

Concession

Question 26

Littering: It seems like an easy argument to be against littering, but many can also use the counterargument stating littering results in the creation of jobs. People get paid to clean up the litter. Littering, of course, can also be argued as detrimental to the environment.

Answer 26

Counterargument

Question 27

The argument(s) against the author’s position.

Answer 27

Counterargument

Question 28

Bullying: Bullying is often thought of as a natural part of society and when a person is bullied, the offender is to be punished. Without interference it becomes a cycle, bad for the victim and the bully who feels powerful and sometimes ashamed after the fact. A counterargument is to present evidence for the emphasis to be placed on prevention, instead of continuation of the cycle: bully then punish.

Answer 28

Counterargument

Question 29

Getting a Pet: A child may argue for a dog. The parents remind the child his sister is allergic to dogs. The boy uses the counterargument that she has been around some dogs without any problems. He is ready for each argument against the dog, perhaps stating there are breeds of dogs that are hypoallergenic. He may also argue that a dog will build up the sister’s tolerance.

Answer 29

Counterargument

Question 30

The deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it is.

Answer 30

Understatement

Question 31

“Deserts are sometimes hot, dry, and sandy.” – Describing deserts of the world.

Answer 31

Understatement

Question 32

“He’s got a few pounds he should lose.” – Describing an obese person.

Answer 32

Understatement

Question 33

“It rained a bit more than usual.” – Describing an area being flooded by heavy rainfall.

Answer 33

Understatement

Question 34

A type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite.

Answer 34

Litotes

Question 35

Her cooking isn’t terrible, exactly.

Answer 35

Litotes

Question 36

Ireland is no ordinary country.

Answer 36

Litotes

Question 37

Geoffrey, this isn’t rocket science.

Answer 37

Litotes

Question 38

A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.

Answer 38

Non Sequitur

Question 39

My refrigerator is acting up. I’d better finish that book by Friday.

Answer 39

Non Sequitur

Question 40

It was a spring day, the sort that gives people hope: all soft winds and delicate smells of warm earth. Daisy quit her job the week before.

Answer 40

Non Sequitur

Question 41

A brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event.

Answer 41

Anecdote

Question 42

I once had a border collie. She was so smart! Every morning, I’d open up the front door and she’d run out, pick up the newspaper and deliver it to my husband at the breakfast table.

Answer 42

Anecdote

Question 43

Oh, I love Ireland! I visited the west coast six times last year. Last time I went to Kilmacduagh, an old monastery where the winds whip with songs of the deceased who are laid to rest there. While I was there, I swore I heard something. I think it was a ghost!

Answer 43

Anecdote

Question 44

Is that a white rose? Wow! I love them. My grandfather had a massive rose garden with over 200 different species. Every Friday, he’d go out into the garden, clip a dozen, and make my grandmother a bouquet. Does love like that exist anymore?

Answer 44

Anecdote