Kara Zittergruen
Ms. Murtha
English III
6 February 2017
Revolutionary Essay Benjamin Franklin wrote "Speech in the Convention" in 1787 to try and persuade George Washington and the delegates at the convention to accept the Constitution. At the time, establishing a national government was much needed. Delegates at the Constitutional Convention wanted fundamental laws and basic rights for citizens. This is still relevant now because it has kept America orderly, and the country still follows the constitution closely today. Franklin persuades his audience using many rhetorical devices such as similes and allusion. He also draws his listeners in by using appeal to ethic, emotion, and logic. In his speech he uses allusion by referring to the Tower of Babel which is a historical location and event in the Bible. He states, "And I think it will astonish our Enemies, who are waiting with Confidence to hear that our Councils are confounded, like those of the Builders of Babel" (Franklin). In this quote, he is wanting to prove their enemies wrong by uniting together rather than turning on each other like the builders of the Tower of Babel. Franklin also uses similes throughout his speech. "But tho' many private Persons think almost as highly of their own Infallibility, as of that of their Sect, few express it so naturally as a certain French Lady, who in a …show more content…
At the beginning of his speech he uses ethos to show his credibility. "For having lived long, I have experienced many Instances of being oblig'd, by better Information or fuller Consideration, to change Opinions even on important Subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow the more apt I am to doubt my own Judgment, and to pay more Respect to the Judgment of others" (Franklin). He talks about his age and his experiences which makes his listeners know his qualifications and respect who he
Ms. Murtha
English III
6 February 2017
Revolutionary Essay Benjamin Franklin wrote "Speech in the Convention" in 1787 to try and persuade George Washington and the delegates at the convention to accept the Constitution. At the time, establishing a national government was much needed. Delegates at the Constitutional Convention wanted fundamental laws and basic rights for citizens. This is still relevant now because it has kept America orderly, and the country still follows the constitution closely today. Franklin persuades his audience using many rhetorical devices such as similes and allusion. He also draws his listeners in by using appeal to ethic, emotion, and logic. In his speech he uses allusion by referring to the Tower of Babel which is a historical location and event in the Bible. He states, "And I think it will astonish our Enemies, who are waiting with Confidence to hear that our Councils are confounded, like those of the Builders of Babel" (Franklin). In this quote, he is wanting to prove their enemies wrong by uniting together rather than turning on each other like the builders of the Tower of Babel. Franklin also uses similes throughout his speech. "But tho' many private Persons think almost as highly of their own Infallibility, as of that of their Sect, few express it so naturally as a certain French Lady, who in a …show more content…
At the beginning of his speech he uses ethos to show his credibility. "For having lived long, I have experienced many Instances of being oblig'd, by better Information or fuller Consideration, to change Opinions even on important Subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow the more apt I am to doubt my own Judgment, and to pay more Respect to the Judgment of others" (Franklin). He talks about his age and his experiences which makes his listeners know his qualifications and respect who he