Rhetorical Triangle Ethos Pathos Logos Storyboard - Free Printable

The image is a comic-style illustration that explains the three classical modes of persuasion—Ethos, Pathos, and Logos—using relatable scenarios. Let's break down each panel and explain how it demonstrates the respective persuasive technique.

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🔹 Panel 1: ETHOS – Persuading by using your perceived credibility

Scene: A king (dressed in royal robes) speaks to his son, who is accompanied by a younger child. The king says:
> "As king, I know all roads that lead to Rome."
The son replies:
> "Son, the King knows everything, even the roads that lead to Rome."

Explanation:
This panel illustrates ethos, which is persuasion based on credibility or authority. The king uses his position of power and wisdom to assert that he knows the best path forward. The son accepts this advice not because of logic or emotion, but because he trusts the king’s authority and experience.
👉 *Ethos relies on the speaker’s character, expertise, or status to convince others.*

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🔹 Panel 2: PATHOS – Persuading with an emotional appeal

Scene: A boy encourages another child on a swing, saying:
> "You will never be satisfied in life if you don't seize this moment. You can do it! Get on the swing!"
The other child hesitates, thinking:
> "Well, I don’t want to regret not taking this opportunity..."

Explanation:
This is pathos, where persuasion comes from emotional appeal. The speaker taps into feelings like fear of regret, excitement, or the desire for fulfillment. By making the child think about future regret, the speaker stirs an emotional response to act.
👉 *Pathos appeals to emotions such as fear, joy, guilt, or hope to influence decisions.*

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🔹 Panel 3: LOGOS – Persuading through reasoning

Scene: In a business meeting, one person says:
> "We should move production to Singapore. Manufacturing costs are cheaper."
Another person responds:
> "Also, fire Gary. Look at him! On his phone again."

Explanation:
This panel shows logos, or persuasion through logic and reason. The first speaker presents a factual argument—lower manufacturing costs in Singapore—based on data (implied by the chart in the background). This is rational and evidence-based.
However, the second speaker shifts to emotion and judgment ("Look at him!")—which is actually a pathos reaction. This contrast highlights the difference between logical reasoning (logos) and emotional bias (pathos).
👉 *Logos uses facts, statistics, and logical arguments to persuade.*

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✔ Summary:

| Technique | How It Works | Example in Image |
|--------|--------------|------------------|
| Ethos | Appeals to authority or trustworthiness | King’s advice based on his royal status |
| Pathos | Appeals to emotions | Encouraging someone to take a chance to avoid regret |
| Logos | Appeals to logic and reason | Suggesting a cost-saving move based on data |

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🎯 Key Takeaway:

Effective persuasion often combines all three techniques. But understanding them helps us recognize when someone is trying to influence us—and whether their argument is based on credibility, emotion, or reason.

This visual guide is a great way to teach or remember the rhetorical triangle: Ethos, Pathos, Logos.