Narration and Narration and Logos, Pathos and EthosLogos, Pathos and Ethos

Developmental writing students make important strides Developmental writing students make important strides learning to write narration before beginning learning to write narration before beginning argumentation.argumentation.

Rhetoric—the crafting of persuasion—can be developed Rhetoric—the crafting of persuasion—can be developed through narrative techniques.through narrative techniques.

Narrative was once intricately woven through rhetoric, Narrative was once intricately woven through rhetoric, but became disentangled as technical logic separated but became disentangled as technical logic separated from rhetorical logic.from rhetorical logic.

Today narration is making a come-back. Narrative theory Today narration is making a come-back. Narrative theory has expanded the definition of narration and has shown has expanded the definition of narration and has shown its effectiveness in a variety of disciplines.its effectiveness in a variety of disciplines.

Narration and LogosNarration and Logos According to Aristotle, logos, appeal to reason, can be According to Aristotle, logos, appeal to reason, can be

developed through enthymeme, maxim and example.developed through enthymeme, maxim and example. Story is a natural vehicle for enthymeme—narrated events Story is a natural vehicle for enthymeme—narrated events

can lead the listener to an unstated conclusion or moral, can lead the listener to an unstated conclusion or moral, inviting the audience to write “the rest of the story.”inviting the audience to write “the rest of the story.”

Maxims, wise sayings, are often the concluding statements Maxims, wise sayings, are often the concluding statements to fables and stories.to fables and stories.

Examples give the rhetor the opportunity to recount past Examples give the rhetor the opportunity to recount past facts, use parallel illustrations (speculation), and fable to facts, use parallel illustrations (speculation), and fable to demonstrate a particular instance of a general concern demonstrate a particular instance of a general concern (Aristotle again). (Aristotle again).

Examples are the most common support my students use Examples are the most common support my students use for argument, and by learning to write a detailed, well-for argument, and by learning to write a detailed, well-crafted story (true, speculative or made-up), they have the crafted story (true, speculative or made-up), they have the confidence to use examples in their essays. confidence to use examples in their essays.

Example of Developing Example of Developing Logos through NarrationLogos through Narration

From FDR’s “War Message,” Dec. 8, 1941—story of “true facts”From FDR’s “War Message,” Dec. 8, 1941—story of “true facts”

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.armed attack.

Narration and PathosNarration and Pathos Appeal to emotion, pathos, can be more influential than Appeal to emotion, pathos, can be more influential than

logos (Cicero).logos (Cicero). Pathos can help the speaker establish identification with the Pathos can help the speaker establish identification with the

audience (Burke). audience (Burke). Connecting with values common to the audience can be Connecting with values common to the audience can be

achieved through pathos.achieved through pathos. Narration is a useful tool in shaping pathos.Narration is a useful tool in shaping pathos.

Introductory stories say to the audience, “I’m like Introductory stories say to the audience, “I’m like you.”you.”

Stories can be used to give the audience a picture of Stories can be used to give the audience a picture of a particular need (a hungry child that needs to be fed), a particular need (a hungry child that needs to be fed), tapping into common values and inviting response.tapping into common values and inviting response.

Example of Developing Example of Developing Pathos through NarrationPathos through Narration

Harper Lee accomplishes identification with Harper Lee accomplishes identification with her characters in her characters in To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird, , showing the audience “that the black showing the audience “that the black characters in the books were people just like characters in the books were people just like them” (Kuypers 138). them” (Kuypers 138).

Many speakers use an opening story to say Many speakers use an opening story to say just that: “I might look different, come from a just that: “I might look different, come from a different country or culture, vote for a different different country or culture, vote for a different political party, but we have this in political party, but we have this in common. . .” common. . .”

A story about the death of an innocent child or A story about the death of an innocent child or the horrors of the Holocaust can tap into our the horrors of the Holocaust can tap into our emotional nature in a way that statistical data emotional nature in a way that statistical data and other forms of argument cannot do” (138). and other forms of argument cannot do” (138).

Narration and EthosNarration and Ethos Ethos, the writer’s character and credibility, are essential Ethos, the writer’s character and credibility, are essential

for audience reception.for audience reception. Quintilian’s insistence that an orator is a good man Quintilian’s insistence that an orator is a good man

speaking well places importance on the moral character speaking well places importance on the moral character and credibility of the rhetor.and credibility of the rhetor.

Ethos can be established through narration, as many Ethos can be established through narration, as many speakers and companies rely on a narrative account of speakers and companies rely on a narrative account of events to show how they arrived at their present events to show how they arrived at their present conclusion, or to describe how they fought a fair fight, conclusion, or to describe how they fought a fair fight, produced a better product, or overcame a difficulty.produced a better product, or overcame a difficulty.

Example of Developing Example of Developing Ethos through NarrationEthos through Narration

Recent commercials by Bausch and Recent commercials by Bausch and Lomb tell how they discovered the Lomb tell how they discovered the problem with their contact solution, problem with their contact solution, responded quickly to the problem, responded quickly to the problem, pulled the product, and developed a pulled the product, and developed a new and safer contact solution for new and safer contact solution for the public. Through story, this the public. Through story, this company is trying to re-establish company is trying to re-establish their credibility with their customers.their credibility with their customers.

ConclusionConclusion

As human beings, we are natural As human beings, we are natural story-tellers and story-consumers. story-tellers and story-consumers. Learning to test and develop Learning to test and develop persuasive abilities through narration persuasive abilities through narration teaches students important lessons teaches students important lessons about logos, pathos and ethos in about logos, pathos and ethos in their writing.their writing.