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Rhetorical Appeals

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Rhetorical appeals are persuasive strategies used by speakers or writers to influence an audience's thoughts or actions. They include ethos (appeal based on credibility), pathos (appeal based on emotions), and logos (appeal based on logic).