Overview of Uses for Pathos and Ethos in food blogs

It is important to build ethos and pathos in the writing of food blogs, so they are able to be more relatable to their audience. What we hope to achieve is: we are similar to consultants for food bloggers, in an attempt to help bloggers view their own blogs with new eyes and see how they might be improved. The choice of content is irrelevant- it doesn't matter if they are blogging about certain recipes or giving restaurant reviews, the insight we are able to give will help to attract a wider audience of people to their blog. comic_strip.png
This can be gained by using two rhetorical strategies: ethos and pathos. Ethos is what is used to establish the credibility of the author- they have extensive knowledge on the topic to where it makes them an expert, if they are not already one, which helps to strengthen their claims. Pathos is a technique which plays to the emotional appeal of the audience, whether it be through writing the use of pictures or something than can move the audience from inside them. We aim to inform and help you, the blogger, create better digital writing skills to better relate to their audience and tailor their sites accordingly.

Uses of pathos

As we observed in our pathos argument this can be influential with just the use of correct writing skills. To illustrate, when writing in their blogs, giving specific examples of what the food looks like on the plate and the atmosphere they are surrounded in can put the audience in that place without actually being there. The ability to transcend through literature is a powerful tool in persuading someone to try a new restaurant or see themselves actually cooking a dish. More importantly, besides using written words to get one's point across, displaying a clear picture of how the food is presented plays a role. Showing pictures of what a customer might encounter when going to a restaurant helps persuade them to either take your advice and try it or to steer clear of this restaurant. In addition, showing pictures of the surrounding area around the restaurant can invite people to more than just dinner but a total experience. What Indianapolis Restaurant Scenes' blog was able to do just this. You are able to give the reader a view of what the whole night can turn into instead of just going for the food. Alone the context of how the pictures are presented help for the bloggers case for pathos, but how the site itself is set up is included in their pathos approach. The contrast of colors on the homepage, where pictures are presented and how they are can influence the reader. Pathos is one of the important rhetorical analysis in food blog, which is benefit to attract audience and promote their passion to continue reading the blog.

Uses of ethos

Next, concerning ethos is an important aspect with blogs, specifically with food. The author giving a brief background of their history with food, whether they are a farmer, chef or culinary teacher can prove that they are a reliable resource. This is important for the strength of their argument, but there are still problems with it. Using things that appeal to a person's emotions can be more persuasive than telling them facts. Showing pictures to the audience of what they're in store for can help prove your point as you're writing. For example, with certain sites such as PBS which is a public site free to anyone to learn their food blogs can be a good example. Because they hold the name PBS they are credited because they have been such an extensive part of American culture and deemed worthy of the knowledge that they provide. They're bloggers background and education in the food industry is present when you go to one of their links. All staff is trained and explain their expertise within this field to make the reader feel more comfortable that the person explaining things to them have an extensive background.

Using things that appeal to a person's emotions can be more persuasive than telling them facts.

In addition, to these pictures a brief story about your experience there can help create a full image of what the audience might encounter if they are cooking or going to a restaurant. Moreover, effective ethos is conducive to establish communication between authors and readers, it can set up more credibility among audience, and makes audience more emotion to read the blog, then share individual experiences with others.

Why it matters

As previously stated, these two rhetorical analyses of digital texts are important for certain blogs, especially food blogs. They are able to give knowledgeable information to the audience in new ways to cook food and great recipes with foods that are in season. In addition, purely through writing giving someone an experience without consciously being there can prove more persuasive than giving expertise knowledge on the subject. People are often confronted with many choices in our fast paced society and slowing it down and giving them a brief tour in our own minds can prove worthy than a picture might. This all ties back to us helping the blogger to keep their audience’s attention. Helping bloggers fix these two problems within their writing keeps readers engaged and can increase their chances of wanting to learn more about the author's food blog.

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