23 23 Rhetoric Detective Discussion
Please choose one example of rhetoric from one of the following texts to share with your classmates:
• Patrick Henry's "Speech to Virginia Convention"
• Thomas Paine's Common Sense
• Thomas Paine's "Crisis No. 1"
In addition to posting the direct quotation, you should also label the source, identify the technique being
used, and explain its significance. How does the use of this rhetorical device make the argument stronger or
more persuasive?
N

"The common sense" written by Thomas Paine was a pamphlet written in support of the independence movement that was established in the 13 American colonies, which wished to get rid of British domination and become an independent nation. Neese pamphlet, paine affirmed that the independence of the colonies was something desired by God, since "There is no known satellite larger than its mother planet. Reason, Nature, God and History affirm:" The blood of those who were slaughtered , Nature's voice screams, it's time to part. Even the distance to which God placed America and England is strong and natural proof that the authority of one over the other was not the will of heaven (Paine, 1776, p.1) ".

In this statement, Paine is making use of the rhetorical feature called logos, this feature makes a speech have a strong appeal to logic, convincing the public quickly and coherently. Paine shows how America has a geography and an environment that was logically created by God to make America a bigger, better and more successful country than England, which could only mean that God wanted America to be independent.