RHETORICAL ANALYSIS of an ARGUMENT

Patrick Henry Speech

Day 1: Tuesday, November 12

Read the text critically.

Read the following speech (critically) delivered by Patrick Henry at the Virginia Convention in 1775. Then write a well-organized essay in which you discuss the rhetorical strategies Henry employs to achieve his purpose for addressing those in attendance. In your analysis, consider such strategies as: organization, diction, syntax, and figurative language.

Day 2: Wednesday, November 13

Big Question/Little Question. Write the thesis statement

BIG QUESTION LITTLE QUESTION

What is Henry’s PURPOSE?

Criticize leaders for ignoring the reality of their situation

Suggest that their past methods of diplomacy are ineffective

Implore his audience to take up arms and fight for freedom

Challenge the notion that the British still wish to negotiate

What are the strategies he uses to address his purpose? Henry employs… Organization Diction Syntax Figurative language

Writing your thesis statement for the entire essay

Consider the following template: In his speech at the Virginia Convention,

Patrick Henry [verb +] _________________________ [identify purpose] by/through____________

____________________________________ _______ [specific reference to his rhetorical

strategies].

How about this thesis statement?

In his speech at the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry uses diction, organization, and figurative language to achieve his purpose.

Or this one?

In his speech at the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry argues that it is time for Americans to fight for their freedom.

Or this one?

In his speech at the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry uses diction, organization, and figurative language to argue that it is time for Americans to fight for their freedom.

How about this one? In his speech at the Virginia

Convention, Patrick Henry argues that Americans have no choice but to take up arms against the British by reminding the country’s leaders of their failed attempts at securing peace and liberty in the past and by confronting them with their current position of danger in the face of the inevitable British invasion.

At your table work together and write a thesis statement for this writing.

In his speech at the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry [verb +] _____________________

___ [identify purpose] by/ through ____ _________________________________ _________________________________ ____ [specific reference to his rhetorical

strategies].

(2 by/through clauses)

Day 3: Thursday, November 14

Polish the thesis statement.

A good thesis statement can be divided into 2 or 3 parts that can become topics for body paragraphs:

…by reminding the country’s leaders of their failed attempts at securing peace and liberty in the past

Allusions: “song of that siren”“betrayed with a

kiss”Imagery:

smile, snare, kissMetaphor:

lamp of experience

Diction:Recurring reference

to hope:illusion of hopedelusive phantomsolace of hopeno room for hope

…and by confronting them with their current position of danger in the face of the inevitable British invasion.

Diction:Recurring references

to slaverychainsbindrivetforgingclanking

Imagery:“war-like

preparations which cover our waters and darken our land”

Rhetorical Question and Answer organization

Parallel Structure:Communicates

passion and resolve“Our petitions have

been slighted…contempt…”

If we wish to be free…if…and if…”

Syntax: exclamation points.

Day 4: Friday, November 15

More polishing the thesis statement. Write your introduction

1. Polish your thesis statement.2. Write an introductory paragraph that is

interesting and that includes your thesis statement that gives 2 “by/through” clauses.

3. Your 2 “by/through” clauses are now the topics of your body paragraphs. Identify at least 2 specific devices or techniques that line up under each “by/through” clause, supporting what you have identified as Henry’s purpose.

Day 5: Monday, November 18

Organizing the essay.

Organized by Purpose Organized by Device

I. IntroductionA. Provide brief context B. TAG (title, author,

genre)C. Thesis/ Purpose

Statement

II. Purpose One [topic sentence]

A. Example of device #1 (3-5 sentence chunk)

B. Example of device #2 (3-5 sentence chunk)

C. Concluding sentence

I. IntroductionA. Provide brief contextB. TAGC. Thesis/ Purpose

Statement

II. Device One [topic sentence]

A. Example of device #1 + purpose (3-5 sentence chunk)

B. Example of device #2 + purpose (3-5 sentence chunk)

C. Concluding sentence

Organization (continued)

Organized by Purpose Organized by Device

III. Purpose Two [topic sentence]A. Example of device #1

(3-5 sentence chunk)B. Example of device #2

(3-5 sentence chunk)C. Concluding sentence

IV. ConclusionA. Revisit the BIG

question (purpose)B. Provide universal

insight

III. Device Two [topic sentence]A. Example of device #1 +

purpose (3-5 sentence chunk)

B. Example of device #2 + purpose (3-5 sentence chunk)

C. Concluding sentence

IV. ConclusionA. Revisit the BIG question

(purpose)B. Provide universal insight

Whichever organizational pattern you use, you must use quotations from text for support.

1. Quotations should not be longer than 6-8 words.

2. Quotations do not speak for themselves, but must be framed with an introduction (top layer of sandwich) and explanation for quotation (the bottom layer of sandwich)

Would this be a good Quotation Sandwich? Patrick Henry reveals to his audience that

they are placing their hopes on an illusion of goodwill by the British. “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.” This quote shows that they have failed in their attempts at securing peace and liberty.

How about this one? Henry reveals to his audience that they are placing

their hopes on an illusion of goodwill falsely communicated by the British. He alludes to the “song of that siren,” a reference to the irresistible, but daunting creatures in The Odyssey with the ability to “transform [men] into beasts,” in order to characterize the British promises as ultimately dangerous to American freedom. Through this reference, the reader connects the former promises of liberty made by the British diplomats to the alluring but lethal siren’s song and can more fully understand Henry’s purpose to reveal to his audience that in the past they have either been blind or have ignored the truth that the British ministry does not have American interests at heart.

Day 6: Tuesday, November 19

First full draft.

1. Write your thesis statement at the top of the page. Underline it in PINK.

2. Write a topic sentence for a body paragraph using one of the purpose statements. Underline the topic sentence in PINK.

3. Write two D2M “quotation sandwiches”. Connect these with a meaningful transition. Underline references to strategies in BLUE. Underline references to text in GREEN. Underline the explanation in YELLOW.

4. Write a concluding statement referring back to the topic sentence. Underline you concluding statement in PINK.

Day 7: Wednesday, November 20

Concluding the essay.

Conclusions should…

1. Revisit the BIG question [the purpose part of your Thesis Statement].

Patrick Henry argues that Americans

have no choice but to take up arms against the British by…

*argues is from the Yellow Pages

Conclusions should also…

Provide universal insight [one great sentence].

What is the significance of this essay in light of contemporary issues facing America?

Would it be nice to have a Patrick Henry today inspiring America to action?

Think “universally.”

Is this a good conclusion?

Patrick Henry argues that Americans have no choice but to take up arms against the British. He does this by using patterns of diction and allusions. Hopefully America will find someone like him to get America going again today.

How about this one? America had no choice but to take up arms

against the British. By allusions to Greek mythology and the Bible, by patterns of diction reflecting the motifs of lost hope and pending slavery, Henry skillfully employs rhetorical strategies that inspire the colonists to action. Henry ends with the plaintive cry to “Give me liberty or give me death” – a cry that has echoed through the Civil War, world wars, and wherever the hearts of men yearn to be free.

Day 8: Thursday, November 21

Begin work on the final essay and ask questions.

Final Draft due by midnight Sunday, November 24

1. Type the entire essay (Introduction, 2 body paragraphs and a conclusion).

2. Underline the Thesis Statement in PINK.

3. Underline the Topic Sentence of each Body Paragraph in PINK.

4. You should have a total of 4 Quotation Sandwiches (2 in each Body Paragraph).

5. The 2 QSs in each paragraph should be connected by a meaningful transition.

a. Underline references to strategies in BLUE. b. Underline references to text in GREEN. c. Underline the explanation in YELLOW.

6. Your conclusion should revisit the BIG question and provide universal insight.

I will not accept these after Monday.

This project is worth 100 points.

(Tuesday, give All the Pretty Horses with small assignment. Do intro to the novel ppt.