Some rhetorical features of the Declaration of Independence

How do Jefferson’s choices develop appeals?

logos, pathos, and ethos

Logos (Logic)

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A syllogism is a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn (whether validly or not) from two propositions (premises), each of which shares a term with the conclusion, and shares a common or middle term not present in the conclusion (e.g., all cats are mammals; Grumpy is a cat; therefore Grumpy is a mammal).

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Logos (Logic)

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Syllogism

• major premise: Governments should protect the “unalienable” rights of the people (the Colonists)
• minor premise: The British government has usurped Colonists’ rights
• conclusion: Therefore the Colonists have the right (even duty) to overthrow the British government

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Developing appeals with Parallel Structure

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Anaphora is a type of parallel structure that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis.

Developing appeals

through diction

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Look at how ethos and pathos are established through word choice

Diction/Word Choice

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British: “He” refused, dissolved, obstructed, ravaged, burned, destroyed

abuses, usurpations, absolute despotism, repeated injuries, absolute tyranny, invasions, swarms, works of death, desolation, cruelty, perfidy (deceitful),

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Colonists: invoke God, Creator, Divine Providence, sacred honor

paragraph 31: they’re reasonable

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alliteration: they try to unite the people “conjured, common kindred, connections, correspondence.”