Forms of appeal

The main forms of appeal in Kamala Harris’ Victory Speech are ethos and pathos. 

Ethos 

Kamala Harris borrows ethos from important American politicians. She starts her speech by quoting Congressman John Lewis, an activist of social justice and racial equality, who said: “Democracy is not a state. It is an act”. By quoting an influential figure who fought for the protection of the United States’ democracy, Harris shows that she shares the same values and goals as him on the matter of democracy, and will work as hard as he did to uphold it. Moreover, she associates herself with a leader of the racial equality movement in the United States and indirectly states that she also shares Congressman Lewis’ goal of fighting racial injustice in the United Sta...