Who would have thought using rhetorical appeals, such as Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, could

help make a speech so effective? Mary Fisher , an American political activist, artist and author,
contracted HIV from her second husband. She then became an outspoken Hiv/Aids activist for
the prevention, education and for the treatment of people with the disease. Because of the Ethos,
Pathos, and Logos that were used, this effective speech got the audiences and myself's attention.
So throughout the speech,A Whisper of Aids , there really wasnt that much Ethos.
Ethos is when the author or writer uses and builds credibility or trustworthiness. Democratic
National Convention, was the audience that was listening to Mary Fisher address her speech
.With the Presidents leadership, much good has been done. Much of the good has gone
unheralded, and as the President has insisted, much remains to be done (Fisher, Mary A
Whisper of Aids), This was an example of ethos being used. This was used to gain credibility
with the audience because she referred to the president, and what he did. Since hes the President
of the United States, and probably most of the audience voted for him, the audience trusts him so
they really listened and followed what was being said.
Pathos was definitely effective in Mary Fishers speech. Pathos is when the author or
writer uses emotional responses to get attention.One of the families is mine. If it is true that HIV
inevitably turns to AIDS, then my children will inevitably turn to orphans. My family has been a
rock of support. My 84-year-old father, who has pursued the healing of the nations, will not
accept the premise that he cannot heal his daughter. My mother refuses to be broken. She still
calls at midnight to tell wonderful jokes that make me laugh. Sisters and friends, and my brother
Phillip, whose birthday is today, all have helped carry me over the hardest places. I am blessed,
richly and deeply blessed, to have such a family(Fisher, Mary A Whisper of Aids) , This was
used to get an emotional response because she used her own family and friends and told their
whole life story, and the problems they were facing.
Logos was most effective in this speech. I think this because since this is a speech, you
have to get right to what you want, and why. Since Logos is using logic and reasoning, Mary
Fisher had to say what she wanted throughout the speech. Also, Logos was most effective
because she used logos the most out of all the rhetorical appeals. An example of logos is The
reality of AIDS is brutally clear. Two hundred thousand Americans are dead or dying. A million
more are infected. Worldwide, forty million, sixty million, or a hundred million infections will be
counted in the coming few years(Fisher, Mary A Whisper of Aids), This was used to
convince the audience, because she related to facts and real logical information to support her
topic, HIV/Aids.
In the end, the speech A Whisper of Aids by Mary Fisher was effective because of the
Ethos, Pathos and Logos that were being used. As a result of the speech, she was invited to speak
again at another Convention, but this time it was a Republican Convention.