...states of america and he was speaking of behalf of the african american population trying to stop racial segregation. In his famous speech Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. sets out to convince the united states of america to stop racial segregation and he effectively ethos and pathos to convince the people successfully. MLK...
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...The Declaration of Independence was drafted upon the virtue of a free government. Under British rule, America was not granted the freedom and independence the nation required to advance and prosper. In order to separate from British ties, colonists of the oppressed America, under the righteous names of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, as well as other familiar titles, constructed the Declaration of Independence. The text constituted the right to separate from Britain and form a new government. The first draft of the Declaration was penned by Thomas Jefferson, who believed in a strict interpretation of the document. Using rhetorical devices, the purpose of the text was evident among colonists: to establish a free, independent government among the nation, separate from British rule, and to protect the fundamental rights of the people. The compilers of the Declaration included rhetorical devices within the text to ensure trust and credibility in their efforts. One example of the way the drafters were able to achieve this was by using ethos, while simultaneously using parallelism. The approach of using these rhetorical devices elicits a response of trust in the reader and stresses the importance of independence. The repetition of the word “our” emphasizes the immense commitment of the promise the...
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...activist, King, delivered the speech with emotion, passion, rhetoric, and logic. He employs three powerful rhetorical skills; ethos, pathos, and logos. King’s most powerful tool throughout his speech was his ability to capture his audience’s emotions, otherwise known as pathos. In the beginning of his speech, he lists the hardships of African American citizens living in 1960’s America. King’s speech was delivered in the most strategic way because he knew what to say and how to say it, in order to draw heartfelt sorrow from the crowd. During his speech, the activist mentions his children and how he dreams of them growing old in an equal world. Bringing his children into his speech was significantly powerful because children are easier to sympathize with than an adult. Children are innocent, naïve, inexperienced, and King knew that this could draw the audience’s emotions even more. King also uses repetition in his speech as he repeats “I have a dream..” several times. Personally, I could feel the emotion when I read the speech, but I can only imagine what it was like for someone experiencing it live. Along with his usage of pathos, King employs ethos, as a way of proving to the crowd that he is credible and reliable. King is well spoken and appears educated on American history; he refers to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the Declaration of Independence. Also, he recognizes that not all White Americans support segregation and inequality. This shows his maturity and ability...
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...How does the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech compare and contrast? Any half-sensible American should at least be able to tell you that they are all crucial pieces of America’s development as a nation, and that they all had different authors and intents. To compare and contrast them effectively, each piece’s purpose, the effect of the document/speech, and the author’s writing style must be analyzed. Each document was written under vastly differing circumstances. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was constructed by our Founding Fathers to combat the oppressive power of King George and separate ties with Britain. In 1863 the Gettysburg Address was given by President...
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...Banneker expresses his stance against slavery using logos to recall the facts of historical significance, counteracting the Declaration of Independence by enclosing the ethics of Banneker's viewpoint and debriefs the reader upon traumatic events his ancestors witnessed linking pathos. In paragraph one Banneker thinks back to when the 13 colonies weren't in power and sovereign of the British. He makes statements conveying how people felt during the early 1600s to mid-1700s. (Kelly) Banneker says, “look back, I entreat you on the variety of dangers to which you were exposed… In which every human aid appeared unavailable… you cannot but acknowledge that the present freedom… which you enjoy, you have mercifully received… is the peculiar blessing of heaven.” In the previous reference, Banneker exemplifies how enslaved Africans felt. They believed their life was irredeemable and incurable to where they thought slavery would live on forever. When Banneker pulls in the example from the declaration, he uses logos to further his argument...
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...Thomas jefferson wrote the Declaration Of Independence .the people of the us are the speakers. The occasion is when the colonist of north america are about to protest against the king of britain. The king of britain limited their rights. This document is clearly written towards the king of Britain. The most obvious purpose is , to give the us independence from britain. The subject is declaring the crimes that great britain committed. Also the fact that the americans want their freedom. The tone is critical, and harsh. Jefferson claims that the declaration of independence freed the americans by using a harsh letter written to the king of britain, in order to free the americans. Thomas Jefferson uses a writing techique called parallelism.one...
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...are to make our mark on history, this spirit must break through. This is the moment. This is our time,” and “if you’ll stand to keep the American Dream alive for those who still hunger for opportunity and thirst for justice.” He uses and emotional appeal to relate to his stance on the American Dream (pathos-Barrack Obama). He believes that if we work with him, we can achieve that ambition of the indefatigable American Dream we desire (ethos). A range of songs from different genres have also included this inspiring theme. Neil Diamond’s take on the American Dream involves every person from every race and religion being able to venture to America to have a better life (pathos-“Coming to America”), and for America to be able to be a more diverse nation. Although this can sound motivating, some songs about the American Dream can take a turn for the worst. A version by the Casting Crowns in essence tells about a father always working to build a big house for his family but never actually being there for them until it is too late (pathos-“American Dream”). This idea has been around since the excogitation (making) of America’s most important documents. The Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights (John Locke) including life, liberty and the...
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...audience than the speech written by Chief Dan George. While Martin Luther King uses Greek philosopher Aristotle’s three “proofs” or appeals; ethos, logos pathos throughout his speech, Chief Dan George only uses two out of the three proofs; ethos and pathos. Though both leaders hold the desire to send out a strong message to their audiences, the speech written and spoken by Martin Luther King contains all three proofs which results in having a greater impact on the people as they are more easily convinced by his vision. Ethos being Greek for “character” is used heavily in King’s...
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...Rhetorical Analysis Paper Martin Luther King Jr.: I Have a Dream According to Aristotle, there are three ways for a speaker to persuade his audience: ethos, logos, and pathos ("American rhetoric: Aristotle's rhetoric - selected moments," n.d.). Aristotle noted that a speech should “engage both the rational and non-rational elements of the listener's soul” (Wardy, 1996, p. 63). The speaker must have credibility with their audience and appear fair, open-minded, honest, and knowledgeable (ethos). He/she must also have logical appeal with strong, valid arguments based on facts and, perhaps, with personal experience and observations (logos). And, finally, the speaker must emotionally appeal to the audience and create a personal connection to draw and hold their attention (pathos). Of the three, Aristotle believed that ideally arguments should be made with reason, or logic, alone (McKay & McKay, 2010). However, it is often a speaker’s emotional appeal that creates the personal connection, as well as captivates and motivates the audience … and few have done that better than the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. If you say the words “I have a dream”, Americans from age 18 to 80 immediately think of Martin Luther King Jr. They may not know the words achieved notoriety from a speech given at an equal rights march on Washington, DC in August 1963. They may not know that 250,000 blacks gathered at the National Mall to demand "jobs and freedom" (Hampson, 2013). Additionally, they...
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...imagery’s. By using images and symbols in the speech, he connects to more people then he would have with big rhetoric woods. He wants the African American people to face and push for more freedom: “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood” (page 12, line 12-14). A valley symbolizes a low point there is difficult to escape from. The sun symbolizes a brighter future were all people are equal and the quicksand symbolizes a trap there is difficult to get out of. When he says “solid rock of brotherhood” it symbolizes a stable people there are there for each other. This is a pathos appeal, because it is emotional. The King also illustrates the rewards of their efforts: “we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” (page 13, line 1-2). The water symbolizes a fresh start, there will wash racism and all reservations away, for a more sophisticated and compassionate time....
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...March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. Dr. King, Jr.’s speech was organized, heartfelt and credible, following the ancient appeals techniques: logos, pathos and ethos, to persuade the audience to take immediate action to end racial discrimination through passive resistance. The first section describes to organization of his speech and the use of historical references, analogies and repetition of keywords now, freedom and dream to relay the urgency to attain racial harmony. Then, the second section shows how using of the first person in his speech and describing his dream of racial equality for his children’s future life creates an emotional connection with the audience. Lastly, the third section describes how his persona as a father, pastor, victim and civil rights leader builds his integrity as a speaker. Dr. King, Jr. carefully organized his speech by first building his credibility by using historical references, then describing the trials and tribulations of the African-American community, and then ending with his dreams and hopes for freedom and racial equality. Dr. King, Jr. established the foundation of his speech with the reincarnation of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by previous United States President Abraham Lincoln, and reiteration of words from the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. In addition to delivering his speech at the Lincoln Memorial, the use of the Emancipation Proclamation is very fitting because the Proclamation was the first...
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...groups, ethos, pathos, and logos. Firstly, King builds the trust of the audience by adding credibility, through the process of ethos. Add Sent.- The first such allusion was a reference to the Emancipation Proclamation. In which King states,“ signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice.” This helps the audience/reader gain a sense of King’s background knowledge of the subject. Another example of such an allusion is brought forth from the Bible, in which King includes the line, “No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” The...
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...King’s speech masterfully uses ethos, pathos, and logos to establish and get his point across to all Americans that racism and segregation is not the intended foundation of America. As King starts the speech on the steps of Lincoln's Memorial, he begins with the explaining the authority of Lincoln and his views on civil rights. By doing this, King provides strong ethos by establishing credibility with his audience. Also, a major way King used his words with credibility was by using information from the United States Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and even songs to back his ideas. “ In this note (Constitution) was a promise that all men, yes, black men, as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights or life, liberty,...
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...The preamble to the Declaration of Independence reads, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal” with one huge unwritten disclaimer, “except African Americans”. Sarcastically written, this doctrine inspired many activists and abolitionists during that era to fight for freedom and equality for all. Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth were two of the most prominent figures of the abolitionist movement in 19th-century America. Their speeches, “What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July?” by Federick Douglass and “Ain’t I a Woman?” by Sojourner Truth, are iconic speeches that continue to resonate with audiences today. Both speeches influence their perspective on equality for African Americans through rhetorical appeals and devices. Truth successfully gains the empathy of...
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...Three important uses of language would include Pathos, Ethos, and Logos. Pathos ( a way of persuading the audience by emotional reason). Lincoln used “we” in many of his sentences not once did he use “I” or “you” because it wouldn’t have given as much an emotional impact. You and I is reaching out to an individual or talking about yourself as in we is meaning everyone and uniting people together. Ethos (convincing someone by act of character), If he wouldn't have appeared trustful and seemed respectful to the audience with his words then he would have never gotten his point across . Logos ( a statement used to persuade your audience by reasoning or logic). By stating words such as “dedicate”, “concentrate”, and “hallow”, which we could not do, it showed how much the men who fought had such an...
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