The Impact of the “I have a Dream” Speech

Description

EGL 102 – Paper 1 ​Your first paper is a rhetorical analysis of one of Speech options provided in Module 2. You are free to choose which speech you want to use. Your paper should begin with an introduction with a thesis statement and cover the following: 1- Determine context and possible audience What is the historical and social or cultural background surrounding the argument? Who is the author addressing when the speech was first given? (You may have to do some quick research about this – look up the speaker and the speech’s name if you can’t figure out the immediate audience.) **** Be sure to cite your sources for any background information if you got it from another source and it is not common knowledge. For instance, information like Abraham Lincoln being the 16th U.S. president elected in 1860 or that the Civil War began in 1861 is common knowledge. That Lincoln gave his two-minute Gettysburg Address after Edward Everett spoke for over two hours is not common knowledge.****** 2- Determine the author’s main argument and the various ways used to support this argument. • Identify the use of logical arguments (Logos), such as inductive or deductive arguments. Try to reconstruct the premises, even if they are unstated, upon which the conclusion rests (Syllogism and Enthymeme – remember, the conclusion is the “thesis” of the argument). There may be several premises and even, in some cases, several conclusions. The conclusion may also be supported by facts or statistics. • Look for elements of the argument designed to stir up emotions in the reader (Pathos). Identify what emotion is appealed to and how the author tries to evoke the emotion through imagery and / or diction. What is the target of the emotion and what would an audience member have to think about the subject matter for the emotional appeal to work? • Sometimes, the author may be known to the audience or may mention qualifications in the work (Ethos), which will add to the author’s credibility and can support the argument as well. Identify any intrinsic Ethos appeals in the text and discuss the author’s extrinsic ethos as the original audience would have known it (some research might be necessary here too). • Identify at least 2 rhetorical figures/devices in the speech and explain their significance in relation to the speaker’s use of logos, pathos, or ethos. Important: Be sure to utilize quotations from the speech to highlight key words and passages. 3- Analyze the effectiveness of the argument. Do the appeals seem effective in the given context? Would a potential audience member mentioned in step #1 believe the argument? It does not matter what you would believe, but what the intended audience would believe. This can constitute your essay’s conclusion if you like. Be sure to quote from the speech to support your analysis where necessary. Papers should be about 4 pages long (roughly 1250 words), double spaced, in Times New Roman 12 Point font, and should include a works cited list / bibliography for the speech and any other source cited.