*Think of a speaker you admire. Does his or her power to persuade come from ethos, pathos, or logos? Think about your own ability to persuade others. What personal qualities do you have that make you persuasive? Does Aristotle’s classification scheme work for them, or do they fit into another category?

There are many speakers I admire. One in particular that comes to mind is Ronald Reagan. His power to persuade, even through hard times, was exceptional. Reagan's power was a true mixture of ethos, pathos, and logos. Reagan could address a message, word it properly, and then find a logical way to deliver the message. All this while at the same time be able to exhibit great personal character. It was Reagan's personal character that the masses flocked to. It was not always the message he was delivering but rather the way in which he delivered it. Only when a speaker can harness ethos, pathos, and logos can they be truly successful at rhetoric.