Please read this information carefully. This is a list of what is due and when.Monday 14 November: Ben Franklin and the Gout responses. You have the Gout handout, but there is a copy on the blog on Wednesday 9 November. The four questions are only on Wednesday's blog.
Wednesday 16 November: test on rhetorical terms and devices, as well as almanac, satire and aphorism. This is in relation to the Patrick Henry Speech at the Virginia Convention. The material is below, and you are being given a handout today.
Thursday 17 November: analysis responses to Patrick Henry's speech. Remember that this is in lieu of a paper. Take your time.
Friday 18 November: vocabulary 5. class handout and copy below.
Patrick Henry's Speech at the Virginia Convention.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvJrSdr34co
Patrick Henry -- Speech to the Virginia Convention
March, 1775
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.
This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?
Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.
Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years.
Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne!
In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free -- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending -- if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged,and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained -- we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?
Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!
The war is inevitable -- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take but as for me: give me liberty or give me death!
Accompanying work for Patrick Henry’s Speech in the Virginia Convention
Please write / type out your responses on a separate sheet of paper, making sure to write in complete sentences. If possible, try to vary the structure of your responses, for example begin with a clause or include the textual evidence within your own sentence. This will count as a writing grade and is in lieu of a paper. DUE Thursday 17 November
On Wednesday 16 November, you will have a test. It will consist of the following list, for which you will simply define these terms: logos, ethos, pathos, anaphora, epistrophe, parallelism, aphorism, satire and almanac. Make sure you can give three techniques used in a persuasive argument that employs logos, ethos and pathos. That’s the whole quiz; so you can write out the responses ahead to familiarize yourself, although you won’t have access during the test.
Background information for Patrick Henry’s Speech in the Virginia Convention. Make sure you are very familiar with this information…
Logos, Ethos and Pathos
Whenever you read an argument you must ask yourself, "is this persuasive? And if so, to whom?" There are several ways to appeal to an audience. Among them are appealing to logos, ethos and pathos. These appeals are prevalent in almost all arguments.
Definitions
Logos: The Greek word logos is the basis for the English word logic. Logos is a broader idea than formal logic--the highly symbolic and mathematical logic that you might study in a philosophy course. Logos refers to any attempt to appeal to the intellect, the general meaning of "logical argument." Everyday arguments rely heavily on ethos and pathos, but academic arguments rely more on logos. Yes, these arguments will call upon the writers' credibility and try to touch the audience's emotions, but there will more often than not be logical chains of reasoning supporting all claims.
Ethos: Ethos is related to the English word ethics and refers to the trustworthiness of the speaker/writer. Ethos is an effective persuasive strategy because when we believe that the speaker does not intend to do us harm, we are more willing to listen to what s/he has to say. For example, when a trusted doctor gives you advice, you may not understand all of the medical reasoning behind the advice, but you nonetheless follow the directions because you believe that the doctor knows what s/he is talking about. Likewise, when a judge comments on legal precedent audiences tend to listen because it is the job of a judge to know the nature of past legal cases.
Pathos: Pathos is related to the words pathetic, sympathy and empathy. Whenever you accept an claim based on how it makes you feel without fully analyzing the rationale behind the claim, you are acting on pathos. They may be any emotions: love, fear, patriotism, guilt, hate or joy. A majority of arguments in the popular press are heavily dependent on pathetic appeals. The more people react without full consideration for the WHY, the more effective an argument can be. Although the pathetic appeal can be manipulative, it is the cornerstone of moving people to action. Many arguments are able to persuade people logically, but the apathetic audience may not follow through on the call to action. Appeals to pathos touch a nerve and compel people to not only listen, but to also take the next step and act in the world.
To Appeal to Logic (logos)
Theoretical, abstract language
Literal and historical analogies
Definitions
Factual data and statistics
Quotations
Citations from experts and authorities
Informed opinions
To appeal to ethos
Language appropriate to audience and subject
Restrained, sincere, fair minded presentation
Appropriate level of vocabulary
Correct grammar
To appeal to pathos
Vivid, concrete language
Emotionally loaded language
Connotative meanings
Emotional examples
Vivid descriptions
Narratives of emotional events
Emotional tone
Figurative language
Effects
LOGOS: Evokes a cognitive, rationale response
ETHOS: Demonstrates author's reliability, competence, and respect for the audience's ideas and values through reliable and appropriate use of support and general accuracy
PATHOS: Evokes an emotional response
The following rhetorical techniques are used to make a persuasive argument. Make sure you understand and can identify these.
RESTATEMENT DEVICES
a. Anaphora
Anaphora involves the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences, often using climax and parallelism to highlight the repetition.Example: Slowly and grimly they advanced, not knowing what lay ahead, not knowing what they would find at the top of the hill, not knowing that they were so near to the outpost.
b. Epistrophe
Epistrophe forms the counterpart to anaphora. The repetition of words or phrases comes at the end of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences, rather than at the beginning.
Example: These cars are taking market share because their engineering is superior, the quality of their materials is superior, and the workmanship of their assembly is superior.
Parallelism is recurrent syntactical similarity. Several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed similarly to show that the ideas in the parts or sentences are equal in importance. Parallelism also adds balance and rhythm and, most importantly, clarity to the sentence.
Example: paralleling rather long subordinate clauses helps you to hold the whole sentence clearly in your head:
These critics--who point out the beauties of style and ideas, who discover the faults of false constructions, and who discuss the application of the rules--usually help a lot in engendering an understanding of the writer's essay.
When, at the conclusion of a prolonged episode of agonizing thought, you decide to buy this car; when, after a hundred frantic sessions of begging stonefaced bankers for the money, you can obtain sufficient funds; and when, after two more years of impatience and frustration, you finally get a driver's license, then come see me and we will talk about a deal.
After you corner the market in Brazilian coffee futures, but before you manipulate the price through the ceiling, sit down and have a cup of coffee with me (while I can still afford it).
RESPONSES….Due Thursday 17 November
Recalling: (USE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE FOR YOUR RESPONSES)
What comment does Henry make about the delegates who have just addressed the House?
What does Henry say he would be guilty of if he holds back his opinion?
How does Henry say that he judges the future?
(a) What does Henry say is the reason for the British military build-up in America? (b) What course of action must the colonials take?
What does Henry say “the next gale that sweeps from the north” will bring?
To what does Henry compare the colonists’ situation?
Interpreting:
Why do you think Henry begins his speech by stating the opinions of the previous speakers?
Why does Henry believe that compromise with the British is not a workable solution?
How does Henry answer the objection that the colonists are not ready to fight?
Recognizing Oratory:
Oratory is the art of formal public speaking. A skilled orator uses such devices as rhetorical questions, restatement, repetition and parallelism to emphasize points. For example, Henry uses restatement in his speech, repeating his declaration, “We must fight!”
(a) Find one instance where Henry answers a possible objection to his argument with a series of rhetorical questions. (b) What purpose does this series of questions serve?
List two ideas that Henry repeats, using different words.
Find one example of parallelism.
An effective orator may use a number of persuasive techniques to try to convince an audience to think or act in a certain way. For example, Patrick Henry uses a blend of logical arguments and emotional appeals in his speech.
Considering the purpose of Henry’s speech, why do you feel these two techniques were appropriate?
Why do you think Henry chose to end his speech with an emotional appeal?
Below is a copy of vocabulary 5 Due Friday 18 November
Vocabulary 5
1. acuity –noun- sharpness, particularly in the mind or senses; keenness, acuteness
2. delineate – verb- to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail, to represent pictorially; depict, picture, render
3. depraved- adjective- marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles; perverted, degenerate, vicious, corrupt.
4. enervate – verb – to weaken or lessen the mental, moral or physical vigor, to enfeeble; impair, cripple, paralyze
5. esoteric – adjective- intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret; occult, cryptic, arcane, recondite.
6. fecund – adjective- fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive; fertile, teeming, prolific
7. fiat – noun- an arbitrary order or decree, a command or act of will or consciousness; edict, dictum, ukase
8. figment –noun- a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion; creation, invention, fancy
9. garner –verb- to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away; collect, accumulate, accrue
10. hallow- verb- to set apart as sacred or holy, sanctify, consecrate, to honor greatly, revere; venerate, bless
11. idiosyncrasy –noun- peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify; eccentricity, quirk, mannerism
12. ignominy- noun- shame or disgrace; dishonor, humiliation, disrepute, odium
13. mundane – adjective- earthly, worldly, relating to practical; prosaic, humdrum, routine, sublunary
14. nuance –noun- a subtle or slight variation as in color, meaning or quality, delicate gradation or shade of difference; shade, nicety, refinement
15. overweening- adjective- conceited, presumptuous, excessive, immoderate; arrogant, unbridled, inflated
16. penchant –noun- a strong attraction or inclination; proclivity, propensity, predilection
17. reputed- adjective- according to reputation or general belief, having widespread acceptance or good reputation; putative, reputable, supposed
18. sophistry- noun- reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound, a fallacy; specious reasoning
19. sumptuous –adjective- costly, rich, magnificent; lavish, munificent, opulent, splendid
20. ubiquitous – adjective- present or existing everywhere; omnipresent, pervasive, universal
Vocabulary 5, exercise 1 Please use the correct form
1. Although he is the _____________________________ head of a crime syndicate, he has never served time in jail.
2. In his writing, the poet paid close attention to every _________________ of meaning in the words he chose.
3. The fraternity developed a set of _____________________ rites that had to be performed by anyone seeking membership.
4. Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray is about a __________________ man whose portrait reveals his wickedness.
5. The fact that the plurals of some nouns are formed irregularly is a(n) ________________________of English grammar.
6. The ruler instituted several new __________________________.
7. The couple was beguiled into buying a bigger house than they needed by the clever ______________________ of the broker.
8. The _________________________ eye of the TV camera threatens to rob citizens of any sense of privacy.
9. It was the __________________________________ confidence of the candidate that prevented her from acknowledging her weaknesses.
10. The ____________________ of most people’s hearing diminishes as they grow older.
11. In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln ____________________ the battlefield on which the Union soldiers fought and died.
12. Unfortunately, the great musician’s mind was ____________________ by disease in the last decade of her life.
13. The painter left all _______________________ concerns to her sister while she single-mindedly pursued her artistic goals.
14. The ______________________ feast honoring the king’s birthday was followed by musical entertainment.
15. The architects will ______________________ the main features of their plan at the next client meeting.
16. The silhouette of a man on the porch was a mere _______________________ of your overheated imagination.
17. An instructor with a _________________________ for belaboring the obvious is bound to be boring.
18. The remarkably _________________________ mind of Albert Einstein produced theories on the science of physics.
19. He went from glory to __________________________, when his deception was exposed.
20. Over the years, the writer was able to ___________________ some wisdom that she passed on to others in her books.
Vocabulary 5. exercise 2
1. The man is __________________________ to have mob connections, but so far no one has been able to substantiate the allegation.
2. During the eleven years of his “personal rule,” King Charles I bypassed Parliament and ruled England by royal ________________________.
3. The phonograph is but one of the wonderful new devices that sprang from the _____________________ mind of Thomas Edison, our most prolific inventor.
4. American-style fast-food shops have gained such popularity all over the world that they are now truly _____________________________.
5. His constant use of the world fabulous, even for quite ordinary subjects, is a(n) ____________________________ that I could do without.
6. The passing years lessened her physical vigor but in no was diminished the _______________________ of her judgment.
7. I was so ________________________ by the oppressive heat and humidity of that awful afternoon that I could barely move.
8. Music can often express a(n) _____________________ of mood or feeling that would be difficult to put into words.
9. The ground in which those soldiers are buried was ______________________ by the blood they shed on it.
10. Analysis will show that his “brilliant exposition” of how we can handle the pollution problem without cost to anyone is merest __________________________.
11. His _______________________ sense of superiority dominates his personality in much the same way as his beetling brow dominates his face.
12. The marathon not only brought in huge sums of money for Africa’s starving masses but also _________________________ much sympathy for their plight.
13. May I interrupt this abstruse discussion and turn your attention to more ____________________ matters—like what’s for dinner?
14. You may have many good traits, but I do not admire your ____________________ for borrowing things and failing to return them.
15. The artist’s sketch not only _________________________ the model’s appearance accurately, but also captured something of her personality.
16. “Your suspicion that I am constantly making fun of you behind you back is a mere _____________________ of your overheated brain,” I replied.
17. There is a quite a difference between the austere furnishings of my little apartment and the ___________________________ accommodations of a luxury hotel.
18. He was a changed young man after he suffered the __________________________ of expulsion from West Point for conduct unbecoming a gentleman.
19. Most people I know are so busy dealing with ordinary problems of life that they have no time for _____________________ philosophical speculation.
20. Beneath the man’s cultivated manner and impeccable grooming there lurked the _______________________mind of a brutal sadist.
Vocabulary 5, exercise 3
Synonyms
1. known for his propensity for exaggeration __________________________________
2. a distinct shade of meaning ___________________________________
3. as a result of the general edict ___________________________________
4. a supposed heir to a huge fortune ___________________________________
5. an eccentricity of speech ____________________________________
6. depicted the view from the balcony ____________________________________
7. sought occult knowledge in ancient books ____________________________________
8. the latest fabrication of his imagination ___________________________________
9. their omnipresent sense of dread ___________________________________
10. known for the keenness of her wit __________________________________
11. a truly vicious attack on an innocent person __________________________________
12. the fertile products of a lively imagination ___________________________________
13. weakened by the relentless repetition ____________________________________
14. collects data from many sources _____________________________________
15. deceived by the specious reasoning of a lawyer _____________________________________
Antonyms
16. desecrated the tombs of their ancestors ___________________________________
17. a man of modest means ____________________________________
18. the unworldly side of life _____________________________________
19. made a meager meal ____________________________________
20. the glory of her situation _____________________________________
Vocabulary 5, exercise 4
1. It is only in superior mental powers, not in physical strength or (ignominy / acuity) of senses, that human beings surpass other living things.
2. Cleopatra took her own life rather than suffer the (figment / ignominy) of being led through the streets of Rome in chains.
3. Like a true fanatic, he considers anyone who disagrees with him on any issue to be feebleminded or (depraved / mundane).
4. Your language is indeed clever and amusing, but your argument is nothing but a piece of outright (sophistry / idiosyncrasy).
5. In a democracy, the government must rule by persuasion and consent—not by mere (fiat / sophistry).
6. The conversation between the computer programmers was so (esoteric / ubiquitous) that I wasn’t sure whether they were speaking English.
7. Her imagination is like a (fecund / depraved) field in which new ideas spring u like so many ripe ears of corn.
8. In that rarefied atmosphere, I was afraid to ask anything quite so (sumptuous / mundane) as the location of the john.
9. We will never abandon a cause that has been (garnered / hallowed) by the achievements and sacrifices of so many noble people.
10. Someone with a pronounced (penchant / figment) for saying the wrong thing might justly be described as a victim of “foot-in-the mouth” disease.
11. I appreciate all those kind expressions of gratitude for my services, but I had hoped also to (garner / nuance) some greenbacks.
12. Probably no complaint of young people is more (ubiquitous / depraved) than “My parents don’t understand me.”
13. Scandal and corruption many so (enervate / delineate) an administration that it can longer function effectively.
14. He means well, but we cannot tolerate his (idiosyncratic / fecund) behavior in an organization that depends on discipline and teamwork.
15. How I’d love to knock the wind out of that lout’s (fecund / overweening) conceit!
16. Two synonyms are rarely exactly the same because (fiats / nuances) of tone or applicability make each of the words unique.
17. The alert defense put up by our team completely neutralized our opponents’ (reputedly / sumptuously) unstoppable passing attack.
18. A true sign of intellectual maturity is the ability to distinguish the (figments / penchants) of wishful thinking from reality.
19. The (sumptuous / ubiquitous) banquet was a pleasant change of pace from the spartan fare to which I had become accustomed.
20. Few writers have J.D. Salinger’s remarkable ability to (delineate / garner) the emotions and aspirations of the average teenager.
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