Speech to the Virginia Convention By Patrick Henry

Elements of Persuasion Emotional Appeal Logical Appeal Anecdote Evidence/Reason Example

Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Personification Hyperbole Allusion

Emotional Appeal A technique that uses language to arouse an emotional response in the reader. EX: “Do you want our children to be forced to play in the streets? Of course not. Therefore, we need a park in our neighborhood.”

Circular Reasoning Evading Issues False Analogy Overgeneralization Logical Appeal Circular Reasoning Evading Issues False Analogy Overgeneralization Stereotyping

Logical Appeal Oversimplification Either/Or False Cause Only Reason

Anecdote A brief story, usually about people, that illustrates a typical situation.

Reliable Consistency Up-to-date Suitability Multiple Sources Evidence/Reason Reliable Consistency Up-to-date Suitability Multiple Sources

Example Used to illustrate a point. Examples in the preceeding paragraph illustrate the differences between a fact, a statistic and an opinion.

Persuasion The use of language to convince an audience to think, feel, or believe what the speaker wants them to believe. The ability to convince an audience through the effective use of language.

Techniques of Persuasion Either/or fallacy- oversimplifying an issue by presenting only two extreme choices. Ex. P. 102- “…I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery…”

It supports an emotional appeal. Figurative Language Language that appeals to the senses: simile, metaphor, personification, and hyperbole. It supports an emotional appeal.

Figurative Language Ex. P. 102 “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that lamp is experience.” Henry is saying that his past relations with the British were not good, so experience would lead him in the direction to protect himself from them.

Periodic Sentence When the main clause is postponed until the end of the sentence. The purpose is to build a conclusion to a dramatic climax. Ex. P. 104 “We must fight!”

Appeal To convince someone by playing on their emotions/sympathy. Ex: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” Without liberty, life and peace are worthless. He will risk his own life.

Repetition The repeating of words or phrases. This is done to make the information stick in the minds of an audience. Ex: p. 104 “We must fight!” “We must fight!”

A memorable conclusion Peroration A memorable conclusion Ex: p. 104 “…but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”

Other Literary Devices Allusion: p. 102 “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.” (figurative language) P. 102 “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.”

Style Parallelism Allusions – Biblical/Greek Call to Action Peroration Emotional Appeals Logical Appeals Repetition

Allusion Allusion: p. 102 “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.” (figurative language) P. 102 “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.”

Repetition “We must fight! We must fight!” Patrick Henry

Parallelism “We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne…” Patrick Henry pg. 204

Emotional Appeal “The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” pg. 205 “They tell us sir, that we are weak—unable to cope with so formidable an adversary…” pg. 205

A memorable conclusion Peroration A memorable conclusion Ex: p. 104 “…but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”

Call to Action We must fight! Give me liberty or give me death!

Logical Appeal Why this accumulation of armies? “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.” Patrick Henry