Authors
Who wrote The Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What was the purpose of "The Crisis"?
To urge soldiers to fight to avoid losing Philadelphia and, consequently, the war.
Define rhetorical audience.
The INTENDED listener or reader in the original context.
Aphorim
A short and concise saying that contains a general truth
Identify the strongest appeal: “Not a man lives on the continent, but fully believes that a separation must sometime or other finally take place…”
Hasty Generalization
Who wrote “The Crisis”?
Thomas Paine
What was Jefferson's purpose? There are TWO purposes that you must have here. Consider the two main audiences.
1) To convince the colonists that the war with Britain was absolutely necessary.
2) To officially declare was against the King.
Define rhetorical author AND give an example of a detail that would influence their writing.
The person delivering the speech or writing their text with a goal to persuade.
EX: "He is intelligent, quick-witted, and legalistic."
Anecdote
A short and true story about a real person to serve as an example
Identify the strongest appeal:
“I cannot see what grounds the King of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us; a common murderer, a highwayman, or a housebreaker.”
Analogy
Who gave the Speech to the Virginia Convention?
Patrick Henry
What was the purpose of the Speech to the Virginia Convention?
To urge the Virginia delegates to choose to rebel against Britain instead of seeking a peaceful solution.
Define rhetorical context.
The time AND place that an author writes from. Note: The exigence comes from the context.
Explain the difference between repetition and parallelism.
Parallelism repeats the sentence structure while repetition repeats the main ideas.
List the top TWO appeals. They do NOT have to be in order but you MUST have two and ONLY two.
“By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils”
Antithesis & Parallelism
Who wrote an autobiography and "The Poor Richard's Almanac"?
Benjamin Franklin
What did Phillis Wheatley AND Abigail Adams advocate for in their letters? Be specific about WHO they were addressing.
Wheatley: To abolish slavery among ministers.
Adams: To advocate for women's rights among men.
Define rhetorical purpose.
The end goal of the writer/speaker. It is what they wish to accomplish.
Explain the difference between allusion and appeal to credibility.
An allusion is a very specific reference to one key story, character, or line from another text. Appeal to credibility is a general reference to someone or something of high standing.
List the top TWO appeals. They do NOT have to be in order but you MUST have two and ONLY two.
Let it be told in the future world, that, in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and repulse it… “shew your faith by your works,” that God may bless you”
Allusion & Appeal to Association
Who wrote a letter strong in its use of diction to the Reverend Occom AND who wrote a letter to her husband while he was away for political duties? You MUST have both first and last names.
Phillis Wheatley & Abigail Adams
Make an inference: What was the purpose of "The Poor Richard's Almanac"?
To pursue moral perfection and set an American standard.
Define rhetorical exigence.
The urgent problem or need prompting an author to write or speak.
Explain the difference between bandwagon and appeal to association.
Bandwagon is a call to join the masses as a way to avoid being left out of left behind. Appeal to association always has praise attached to it.
List the top THREE appeals. They do NOT have to be in order but you MUST have all three and ONLY three.
“Habitations without safety, and slavery without hope - our homes turned into barracks and bawdy houses for hessians” (118-120).
Fallacy, Pathos & Parallelism