The Enlightenment/Revolutionary Time Period Shannon Luster 10 th grade English

Historical Influences Society dictates writing, and the American society is changing during this time period. The dates of the time period are Though still under British control, the country’s ability to be self-sufficient is evident; thus, people are calling for change.

Literary Characteristics 1. Writing is informative. 2. Writing has a persuasive tone. 3. Strong sense of nation in the writing. 4. Speechmaking is very powerful.

Idealism The philosophy of Idealism is most prevalent during this time period. This philosophy is based on the belief that God has America in His favoritism. Therefore, everything that happens is God’s will. The idea that the country cannot fail is the most important persuasive technique of writing.

Rhetoric Writers use the art of rhetoric to persuade its readers and listeners. Rhetoric is the art of discourse which aims to improve the faculty of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. Aristotle considered it a counterpart to logic and politics. He said that rhetoric is “the ability, in any given case, to use the available means of persuasion.”

Aristotle’s Three Rhetorical Appeals Logos: Logical appeal Writers and speakers who use logos rely on logic and facts to support a claim. Example: We need the Declaration of Independence because of (a), (b), and (c). Example: First…; Next…; Therefore…

Three Rhetorical Appeals (cont.) Pathos: Emotional Appeal Writers and speakers who appeal to pathos present ideas and images which elicit strong feelings. Example: “These actions are the cause of death, destruction, and isolation of our founding generation.” –Thomas Paine, “The Crisis”

Three Rhetorical Appeals (cont.) Ethos: Ethical Appeal Writers and speakers who use ethos appeal to the moral standards of the audience. Ethos appeals to the strong sense of right and wrong. Example: The dress code is unfair to a student’s freedom of expression. Example: It is wrong to deny women the right to vote because they are humans, too.

Five Canons of Rhetoric A canon is a body of rules, principles, or standards universally accepted as a field of study. 1. Invention: (topic and argument) 2. Arrangement: (how the essay or speech is put together) 3. Style: (how the writer presents the words and tone of the essay or speech) 4. Memory: (speakers should memorize the speech for an effective presentation) 5. Delivery: (how the essay or speech is presented to the audience)

Two Types of Arguments Deductive: A type of argument which presents a general statement (topic) and proceeds to facts supporting it. Inductive: A type of argument which begins with examples and facts proceeding to drawing conclusions from the examples and facts.

Literary Techniques (cont.) Antithesis: a device in which contrasting ideas are presented in a grammatically balanced statement. Applies juxtaposition: placing contrasting words, phrases, or images beside one another for effect. “I call not upon a few, but upon all” –Thomas Paine, “The Crisis” Tone: a writer’s/speaker’s use of words, phrases, and sentences to establish an emotional influence in the readers/listeners.

Literary Techniques of Persuasion Rhetorical Question: a questions asked, but not directly answered. The questions are asked with such a tone to evoke the three ethical appeals Parallelism: a form of repetition which is established with grammatical structuring of sentences. “We hold these truths to be self evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” –Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence