Rhetoric definition & examples

As I understand it a Greek philosopher Aristotle identified three types of persuasive speech he called rhetoric. The three types of rhetoric are pathos, ethos and logos. Each type of rhetoric is used by writers in an attempt to persuade their reader(s). The definition of each type is listed below along with an example.

Pathos: this type of persuasion is an appeal to the readers emotions.

Example: If you don't sign this petition then my children will go hungry.

Ethos: this type of persuasion places emphasis on the writers credibility.

Example: Our company has over twenty years of experience performing this service. This is why you can trust our experts at company xyz.

Logos: this type of persuasion uses logic in an attempt to persuade the reader.

Example: As part of the periodic maintenance for your machine the bearings should be lubricated annually. If the bearings do not receive this lubrication they will wear out prematurely costing your company xyz a lot of money. Lubricating the bearings annually will ensure that they last a long time at a minimal cost.