Ethos, Logos, Pathos
Ethos, Logos, Pathos is a feedback method drawing on Aristotle's principles of rhetoric to evaluate the persuasiveness of a communication piece. Ideal for assessing presentations or proposals, it helps participants identify strengths and areas for improvement in credibility, logic, and emotional impact.
How to run it
- 1
Introduce the concept of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos to the participants.
- 2
Present the communication piece to be evaluated.
- 3
Ask participants to role-play as the target audience and score the piece from 1 to 10 in each category: Ethos (credibility), Logos (logic), and Pathos (emotion).
- 4
Discuss the scores collectively to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
Tips
Encourage participants to think critically and from the perspective of the intended audience.
This exercise works best when participants are honest and constructive in their feedback.
Ensure that the discussion remains focused on improving the communication piece.
Variations
This method can be adapted for written content by having participants review documents instead of live presentations. It can also be used in one-on-one coaching sessions to refine communication skills.
Where it fits
Frequently asked questions
When should I use Ethos, Logos, Pathos?â–¾
Use Ethos, Logos, Pathos when you want to: Evaluating a marketing campaign's effectiveness; Improving a sales pitch; Refining a public speaking presentation.
How long does Ethos, Logos, Pathos take?â–¾
Ethos, Logos, Pathos typically takes 10–60 minutes.
How many participants does Ethos, Logos, Pathos work for?â–¾
Ethos, Logos, Pathos works best for groups of 1–10 participants.
What materials do I need for Ethos, Logos, Pathos?â–¾
To run Ethos, Logos, Pathos you will need: Scorecards, Pens.
How difficult is Ethos, Logos, Pathos to facilitate?â–¾
Ethos, Logos, Pathos is rated intermediate — some facilitation experience is helpful.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Gamestorming.