Test Prep

To prepare for the exam, do each of the following:

1. Be able to answer the unit essential questions in relation to any of the texts we
have read or any text you are given on test day
1. How do purpose, audience and occasion shape a piece of writing?
Ben Franklins Autobiography- Audience: Son and other descendants Purpose: Share story of how he
came from poverty and obscurity to wealth fame and happiness, Vanity, to relive parts of his life (or
the closest he can get to it)
***** Ask this question about occasion***Ben Franklins Poor Richards Almanac- Audience: Common
man Purpose: Make money for his wife Occasion: Educating the public?
Thomas Jeffersons Autobiography- Audience: People who dont know about the changes made to the
declaration. Purpose: to show them the changes made to the document occasion: 5th annual screw
you to all the people I work with you ruined my declaration!
The Narrative of Olaudah Equiano- purpose: to stop slavery. Audience: Slave owners, government
officials and people who support and or profit from slavery, PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE FENCE ABOUT
SLAVERY. Occasion- American and British Abolitionist Movement
Madisons Federalist 10- Audience: People of new York Purpose: To describe why we need a strong, big
republic, to protect against the mortal diseases that are factions. Occasion: Federalist papers
Patrick Henrys Speech at the VA Convention- Occasion- va convention Audience- house of burgesses.
Purpose- Convince house of burgesses to send troops to engage in war with britain. (rev. war)
Truths Aint I a Woman?- 1851, Purpose: Convince people that all women deserve the same rights as
men. Audience: Men and women (primarily white) that are convinced that women (and black women)
do not have equal rights. Occasion: Womens Convention, Akron, Ohio.

2. How does a writers style add to the persuasiveness of a text?

Ben Franklins Autobiography- He is very frank, let me sit down and tell you my life kind of. This adds
to the rags to riches story a lot.
Ben Franklins Poor Richards Almanac- He writes like a member of the public at this time would, his
simple style makes it so that anyone can understand it. He makes it relatable with the statements
about wanting to gaze up at the stars all day and having to work to provide for his wife. (also the
nagging wife is a bit comical as well as relatable) its very casual.
Thomas Jeffersons Autobiography- There isnt really a style since this is just him restating the
declaration but he seems very poignant and mad. Both in the document and his explanation of what
Congress did to his document. Because he is so passionate that what they did is wrong you hope that
he is right so that he doesnt waste all that energy in vain but it appears that the document that he
originally wrote is very emotional and rash.

The Narrative of Olaudah Equiano- His story is one that is told very truthfully, a sincere and very
graphic account of what happened to him on his journey with slave traders in the West Indies from
Eboe (Nigeria). Style is clean and clear which paints the whole picture for us, does not seem biased in
any way. Just telling his experience.
Madisons Federalist 10- ( see next question I mixed up the order)Logos: Causes of a faction cannot
be removed its relief is only sought through controlling effects. Pathos: Mortal diseases, fires,
schemes of oppression, mischiefs of a faction, Ethos: He knows what happens to governments that
are small, they get overrun by factions and crumble
Patrick Henrys Speech at the VA Convention- Is formal and respectful at first, addressing the
president of the house and the person that spoke before him but in the end says GB is not a friend, we
have tried everything, but britain is coming for us we must fight. this is very urgent. Emotional, trying
to evoke emotion.
Truths Aint I a Woman?- very off the cuff (she did not prepare this speech, adding to the emotional
value of it in my mind), very blunt, very honest, it says look this is what I went through and to hell
with you if you think that that makes me less of a women because we both know I AM A WOMAN

3. How do appeals to ethos, logos and pathos aid in persuading an audience?

Ben Franklins Autobiography- ethos: Humble, happy, content, satisfied with his life, not a bragger,
introspective, self aware, logical, aware, generous, understands human nature. Pathos: this is what I
went through (make the audience feel that too) Logos: That cleansing yourself of all your sins is
easy if you put your mind to it and have a plan. That anything is possible if you have a plan.
Ben Franklins Poor Richards Almanac- Ethos: Relatable, would prefer to sit around with telescope and
books, nagging wife, poor, everyman, honest, not proud, humorous. Logos: Little tidbits of knowledge
that he provides for his viewers. (delivers them as if they are common sense) Pathos: sympathize with
his situation, the every one has been there so Ill support him kind of thing
Thomas Jeffersons Autobiography- Ethos: People have been wronged, people want freedom, angry,
want what is best for the states. Pathos: anger, bitter, critical, hurt, serious.
The Narrative of Olaudah Equiano- Ethos: Educated, experienced events first hand (slave) Largely
without bias, even toned delivery. Logos: His logic is that if these people are Christian like they say
they are then why are they not treating others the way they want to be treated? They are hypocrites
because what they preach, do unto others as others would do unto you. Pathos: Families separated
when sold, some prefered to die than to submit to the white (tried to jump overboard but got pulled
back and beaten), beatings, children drowning and suffocating in necessary tubs, too scared to take
wine glass (fear of poison) starvation (white men caught fish and released the rest instead of giving
some to their captives), afraid he will be beaten, smells making it hard to breathe down below the
decks.
Madisons Federalist 10- Factual, professional through most of it, gets emphatic when need be but also
knows when to stay low. very verbose, organized, for the people at the time that would have made it
easier to follow

Patrick Henrys Speech at the VA Convention- Ethos: Reverence for god, Patriotic, Even tempered,
respectful, speaks his mind (doesnt hold back), Credible, his eyes are open, Pathos: Imagery (darken
our land and cover our waters, bind and rivet us up in chains the British have been making for years,
The chains are being forged, their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston, Our bretheren are
already in the field why do we stand idle (guilt)) Logos: We have tried everything to get them to listen
but they wont so now we must go to war. The ships cannot be for anyone else they must be for us.
Truths Aint I a Woman?- Ethos: Experienced in gender and racial discrimination, believes in the
power of people, intelligent although may not be educated, can do many things that men can do,
physically and emotionally strong. Logos: Rhetorical questions like aint i a woman and if you had a
glass holds a quart and mine holds a pint wouldnt you let me have my pint? Pathos: No one carries me
over ditches and mud puddles or helps me into carriages I have born 13 children and seen them sold
off into slavery I have worked as hard as a man and can eat as much as a man and can bear the lash
as well.

4. In what way(s) are the emerging American Dream and the emerging American culture (ideals and
values) evident in American seminal texts?
Ben Franklins Autobiography- Ben Franklin lived and is the personification of the American Dream, he
came from Boston with little to no money and he rose up to become a very successful and one of the
most influential people of all times for America. His whole idea is that you dont have to start out
perfect or knowing what you want to do but you can always make something of yourself or accomplish
the impossible (cleansing of all sins) if you try hard enough
Ben Franklins Poor Richards Almanac- That you can make yourself whatever you want to be. Poor
Richard started out with no money and he created the Almanacs to try and get money and now he has
satisfied his wife, she has a new pot, a new pair of shoes, two shifts, a petticoat and he got a second
hand coat (humorous)
Thomas Jeffersons Autobiography- Thomas Jeffersons blind patriotism was influential and infectious
to the people. This document also showed that Americans were so patriotic that they sometimes lost
track of their emotions and or logic because he makes a lot of brash and rash statements. They
wanted freedom from tyranny very badly.
The Narrative of Olaudah Equiano- This document clearly states that the American Dream and
American culture was built on the backs of slaves. That slaves are bought, sold, seperated from their
families for the gain of the whites= new kind of cruelty. That these people were torn away from their
lives for American greed. (shows all the problems with slavery)
Madisons Federalist 10- This must have lead to big governments, because of him the government we
have now is very big. This shows a growing ditrust of politics as people should be at this time only just
escaping a tyrant. That might have also effected their choice here.

Patrick Henrys Speech at the VA Convention- Fighting for what you believe in, Henry thought that this
was Americas last option and he was right. He inspired people then to fight and to this day
encourages those same values.
Truths Aint I a Woman?- This speaks to the growing womans rights movement (1848-1920) and that
women could do as many things as men and deserved fair treatment not only in comparison to men
but in comparison to each other. Strong women are everywhere now because of women like Truth.

5. What do the arguments used in seminal, foundational American texts reveal about the opposing
views and ongoing debates occurring when the texts were produced?
Ben Franklins Autobiography- Ongoing debate: How you achieve morality, if so how do you measure
it?
Ben Franklins Poor Richards Almanac- He says that I write almanacs with no other view than the
public good, but I should not be sincere; men now a days are too wise to be decievd by pretences
how specious soever meaning that now people are beginning to question what people are writing and
why they are writing it, do they need money??
Thomas Jeffersons Autobiography- People that opposed this original document thought that it was too
brash and rash.
The Narrative of Olaudah Equiano- People at the time (as revealed through the text) treated these
people like animals because that is what they thought they were, or that they were about as
intelligent as an animal. Ongoing debates were slavery and the morality of slavery, if it should be
allowed or abolished. The treatment of Equianos people in this narrative shows the lack of respect
that whites had for African Americans.
Madisons Federalist 10- WHAT KIND OF GOVT SHOULD WE HAVE???
Patrick Henrys Speech at the VA Convention- Arguements over whether we should keep or sever our
relationship with Britain.
Truths Aint I a Woman?- Arguments on how women should be treated, if they should have equal
rights among themselves and among the population as a whole were arguments. Arguments against
her point is that women need to be helped and that women cant have as many rights as men.
Womens overall place in society was up to question at this point.

6. How did foundational American texts help shape Colonial American culture, ideals and law and how
did they help define and shape the modern-day American identity?
Ben Franklins Autobiography- Self made man is something that has always been a part of american
culture and it always will be. He also took puritan values of self examination which some people still
held onto and made them about success in American life, molded it to qualities that people would
benefit from.
Ben Franklins Poor Richards Almanac- self made man, anyone can make money if they have an
opportunity and an idea, this isn't really evident in law but it is still evident in our culture today.

Thomas Jeffersons Autobiography- The changes that were made to this document gained America
their independence. If it were not for this document there would be no us, no America, if not this
original draft and later on the final draft where would we be today?
The Narrative of Olaudah Equiano- Texts like this revealed the capabilities that African Americans had
and sparked the abolitionist movement, banning slavery in 1833 (europe) 1865 (US)
Madisons Federalist 10Patrick Henrys Speech at the VA Convention- Inspired people to fight, contains one of the most
famous quotes in all of American History because of the fighting spirit it possesses. Helped with rev.
war?
Truths Aint I a Woman?- This helped push forward the womens rights movement, we have women
like Truth who fought tirelessly for equality for the opportunities women have today. We have a long
way to go but this speech really got people thinking about equality for women, the capabilities and
strength of women. Womens suffrage!

7. How do texts composed by slaves and women during the colonial period illustrate the
disenfranchisement of these two groups and their limited or nonexistent access to the American
Dream?
Ben Franklins Autobiography- This has nothing to do with slaves or women, but the middle class and
the lower class and how they got by and how they were treated. How they can improve themselves.
Ben Franklins Poor Richards Almanac- This does not show either of the two but this shows a little bit
of separation between the classes and how hard that it is for the common person in America to make
it since this is representing the common man.
Thomas Jeffersons Autobiography- none of the above apply here, this is not about freedoms granted
to slaves or women of the time period, but rather the draft of the most important document of
American history.
The Narrative of Olaudah Equiano- This document shows the mistreatment of slaves, the gruesome
conditions they were in and what they endured in order to come to a place where they are treated
with no respect (tied and chained, starved, unclean, beaten, sold, separated from their families to
work for no pay in an unfamiliar land, giving up their lives just so they can go make not their own
opportunities, but provide for someone else)
Madisons Federalist 10- This showed how smaller groups can be taken advantage of and that is why
we cannot have a small govt even though it isn't about slaves or women.
Patrick Henrys Speech at the VA Convention- none, but spoke of the treatment of Americans by the
British which is somewhat akin to the way early Americans treated slaves and women.
Truths Aint I a Woman?- Truths off the cuff speech illustrates both at the same time, being both a
freed slave and a women she talks about the struggle of being an African American women, of being
as strong as a man but neither getting the rights of man nor women. That women should have equal
rights both among themselves and among the community as a whole.

2. Be able to perform a rhetorical analysis of any text you are given by identifying and
evaluating the use of the techniques listed below and through knowledge of terminology:
ethos- appeal to ethics (the speaker is what? credibility)
logos- appeal to logic (is a logical statement)
pathos- appeal to emotions (aims to evoke a certain emotion)
speaker- person who wrote or spoke this piece
tone (utilize tone handout)
audience- people the speaker is addressing, can affect tone, the way the person says things
occasion- the reason for them speaking, the event they are speaking at and so on. Can affect
theme and topic
purpose- what they are trying to accomplish
theme (review theme handout)
allusion--Biblical and mythological
rhetorical questions- questions not meant to be answered
arguments- what the speaker is arguing
counterarguments- anything that is said against that topic
denotation- literal meaning of something
connotation- feeling that a word evokes
diction- choice of words in writing
seminal/foundational- influencing later developments
analogy- comparing something to something else
juxtaposition- two things that when put together have a contradicting effect

3. Review the PowerPoint titled Transition from Puritan Literature to the Literature of the Age of
Reason.

4. Understand what is being asked of you when you are instructed to analyze, evaluate, discuss,
identify, paraphrase, summarize, or describe.

5. Be familiar with the rhetorical analysis we conducted of each of the following documents:

selection from Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

selection from Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac
selection from Thomas Jefferson's Autobiography
selection from The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano
Madison's The Federalist #10
Henry's Speech to the Virginia Convention

Ain't I a Woman--Sojourner Truth

and for honors only:
Thomas Paine's The Crisis
Thomas Paine's Common Sense

6. Be prepared to independently apply the skills of rhetorical analysis we have hone together to a text
you will be seeing for the first time on test day.

SAMPLE TEST ITEM:

1. Explain Patrick Henrys purpose in using rhetorical questions in paragraph three of his Speech to the
Virginia Convention and evaluate the effectiveness of this persuasive technique. (Note: In the case of a
question this specific, I will provide a copy a copy of the text.)
Also, be prepared to perform this level of analysis on a text you have not seen before.

Are fleets a work of love and reconciliation? What means this martial array, if its purpose is not to
force us into 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. And what have we to oppose them? Shall we try argument? We have been trying that
for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. Shall we resort to
entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have we have not exhausted?

P1: Fills the paragraph with pathos and logos, people see his and his logic as he goes
P2: Pointing out that nothing else can be done
P3: repetitive nature adds to persuasion, saying the same thing in a different way