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+ An Aristoteli1n 2r1 :eo ort
Aristotle’s book The Rhetoric and the Poetics of Aristotle was really the first case buestion interview
prep book. His book is about persuasion and, after all, that’s what we’re trying to do — persuade the
interviewer that we have what it takes. Aristotle lays out a tripod (a framework) and argues that
persuasion relies on the relationship between logos, ethos and pathos. As you probably remember from
Philosophy 101, logos is a logical, well-reasoned argument based on facts and figures, charts and
graphs. Ethos deals with the speaker’s (that’s you) personal voice and character. How likable and
believable are you? In other words, fit. How would I feel if we were snowed in for nine hours at the
Macedonian Chariot Station? Would you be an interesting companion? Finally there is pathos, your
audience’s frame of mind. This is often tough to determine or control, but it can be massaged by
incorporating logos and ethos into your answer. The point is that you need the tripod: the combination of
logos, ethos and pathos to do well in a case interview. Too much logic and not enough personality
results in a tipped tripod. As you prepare for your interviews, remember to concentrate on all three. It is
as much about the presentation as it is about the logic.