Logos is a Greek term that refers to the use of logic and reasoning in crafting a piece of persuasive writing or rhetoric. It is one of the three modes of persuasion in rhetoric, alongside ethos and pathos. Logos is used to appeal to an audiences reason with the support of facts, figures, data, and other credible evidence to support a claim. The ultimate goal is to persuade the audience to agree with the authors idea or belief.
Examples of logos in literature include presenting statistics or research results, drawing facts from the speakers own life or from the world at large, and presenting examples to support ones view. In academic writing, logos is used in argumentative essays and various industries, such as law, politics, technology, marketing, news reporting, and business.
To use logos, the author makes clear, logical connections between ideas. The thesis should be clear and specific, supported by strong reasons and credible evidence, and arranged in a well-reasoned order. However, not all arguments that include facts are logical, and data can be manipulated.
In summary, logos is the use of logic and reasoning to persuade an audience, and it is an essential component of persuasive writing and rhetoric.