Introduction
When analyzing a rhetorical piece, one should address a set of critical elements that must be addressed when interpreting not only the content but also the form and support of the argument presented in a text. This is particularly relevant for the political setting where texts impact the target audience in a larger context of nation-building decision-making (Lee et al., 2021).
Thesis and Main Argument
The text selected for this project represents such a political setting; it is the “Declaration of Independence” (2023), devoted to articulating the rationale behind declaring the thirteen states of America independent. To apply critical analysis to the text, one will address the central argument, its support, Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals used, the type of the argument, and possible strengths and weaknesses of the argument. It is claimed that, to make a political rhetorical piece, one should balance appeals to logos, ethos, and pathos and construct an argument clearly to influence the audience.
Strengths of the Argument
The analyzed text is a transcript of a document signed by the representatives of the thirteen states in order to claim the Declaration of Independence. The document argues that when a ruler’s government fails to recognize the rights and dignities of the governed, it is rational and religious to claim independence from such a ruler (“Declaration of Independence: Transcript,” 2023). This argument is derived from the articulation of the necessity of the states to abolish themselves from the atrocities faced by the population under the unjust ruling of the government.
The document’s authors claim the states’ ability to govern their agendas independently from outside influence to obtain liberty and reinforce the opportunity for the pursuit of happiness by all citizens (“Declaration of Independence: Transcript,” 2023). The argument is well-supported by a variety of means and appeals.Indeed, the argument is strong due to the use of strong evidence in favor of the authors. For example, the text contains continuous references to rights and liberties and factual information on the negative implications of the external government from which the states want to liberate themselves.
Use of Aristotle’s Three Appeals
When referring to Aristotle’s rhetoric, one might identify three types of appeal, namely the appeal to logic and reason, called logos; to values and beliefs, called pathos; and to the author’s credibility, called ethos (Raissouni, 2020). These appeals are frequently used in the political discourse in order to strengthen an argument with versatile supporting evidence (Raissouni, 2020). The authors use all three appeals in the analyzed text, making the argument wholesome and practical.
Pathos: Emotional Appeal
When opening the argument, the authors appeal to pathos by emphasizing the values of freedom and democracy in the audience. It might be illustrated by an example from the text, namely, “all men are created equal, that their Creator endows them with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (“Declaration of Independence,” 2023, para. 2). In addition, the text contains repeated references to the despotism and atrocities performed by the British government against the colonies, which is aimed at inducing a strong emotional reaction in the audience and relate to the claims presented in the rhetoric text.
Logos: Logical Appeal
In the middle of the text, the authors shift toward the appeal to logos by rationalizing the decision to declare independence of the states. Indeed, a very strict, list-like indication of the negative aspects of the British King’s ruling is presented in a factual manner with documented evidence of the wrongdoings. For example, the text contains such claims as “He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, he has obstructed the Administration of Justice, he has made Judges dependent on his Will alone” (“Declaration of Independence,” 2023, para. 3-10). Such an appeal strengthens the argument and rationalizes the decision to liberate from the crown.
Ethos: Credibility and Ethical Appeal
In addition, the authors implicitly appeal to ethos by indicating their credibility and expertise as political leaders. Indeed, the text contains indirect appeals to the competencies of the states’ rulers, implying their capability to make informed decisions. For example, the authors state that they “have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms,” which illustrates their capacity to be constructive in argumentation (“Declaration of Independence,” 2023, para. 31). This appeal helps to establish the validity of the argument since it is evident that the claims are generated by experts (Alegre, 2021). Thus, the three appeals were used effectively, which made the argument strong and persuasive.
Argument Type
When discussing the type of argument used in the text, one might state that it is deductive. According to Alegre (2021), this argument is one way to prove a claim’s validity by referring to the details informing ultimate conclusions. In this regard, the authors list several proofs of the British Government’s negative impact on colonies, the rights and liberties of the American citizens, and other factual evidence to claim independence.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the argument of the analyzed text is strong due to its use of three appeals and the deductive type of supporting the main claim. The authors included factual information to appeal to logos, used emotionally colored language and references to values to manifest pathos, and exhibited expertise to appeal to ethos. To strengthen the argument, I suggest supporting the list of claims against the King by referring to specific events or documents to ensure factuality. Nonetheless, the rhetorical analysis of the text allows for concluding its overall effectiveness and persuasive potential.
References
Alegre, L. F. B. (2021). Towards a stronger concept of argument. Web.
Declaration of Independence: A transcription. (2023). [Archive document]. National Archives. Web.
Lee, C. D., White, G., & Dong, D. (2021). Educating for civic reasoning and discourse. National Academy of Education.
Raissouni, I. (2020). The language of American political discourse: Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals as manifested in Bush’s and Obama’s speeches on the war on terror. International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Culture, 6(4), 38-48. Web.