Reflection Writing a reflective essay is an important skill to practice. It will help me gain more appreciation and understanding of the assignment. This essay will reflect on my writing and learning process, focusing on my metacognitive development, and experiences. The assignment of Week 15 was to write an essay that compares and contrasts the rhetorical devices used by both Patrick Henry and Malcom X to reach similar goals with their audience members. Going into this assignment, I had very limited knowledge on Patrick Henry and Malcom X. Now, I have more knowledge about them, and I can effectively apply my learning in other areas of my life. When first starting this assignment, I was vaguely familiar with Patrick Henry and his speech, “Give me Liberty and Give me Death” because I had learned about the Revolution in history class. I was really unfamiliar with Malcom X and after reading about him, learned that I have never actually heard of him. My first step in this assignment started early over Christmas Break. I researched and studied Patrick Henry, Malcom X, and what their speeches meant. The last week of vacation, I read their speeches and focused on the meaning. In my opinion, I thought that Patrick Henry’s speech was far better …show more content…
I set my phone timer to go off in 40 minutes and I manly focused on the thesis, topic sentences, and quotes. This took up all my time and my initial thoughts on my first draft were very critical. My essay was extremely short with no introduction or conclusion, and didn’t show any contrasting relationship between the two men’s use of rhetoric. I planned to write the rough draft toward the end of Christmas break, so that I could ask my English teacher to read and write notes on it on Monday to help me make it better. When I found out that she would be absent all week, I got out a marker and read it aloud to myself in class, marking it us as I went. (My edits are in the Appendix
In this essay I will be comparing and contrasting three inspirational people and their experiences on reading and writing. Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, and Sandra Cisneros all had different opinions about it. All of them overcame struggles that were different but similar in some way. What really intrigued me was that they followed their hearts in what they wanted to do even though people told them they couldn't.
Patrick Henry uses rhetorical questions to make his audience contemplate about the answers to those questions. When an audience member replies with an answer, this will further the support for Henry’s argument. The supporting evidence from this answer will help develop his claim even more, therefore making his argument additionally valid. Patrick Henry also uses rhetorical questions to cause compelling reactions in his audience that will hopefully bring them to his side of the
Although Henry refused to serve on the Constitutional Convention, Madison needed Henry's persuasive ways. Henry had a way to make people agree with his ideas. Even though Henry didn't serve on the Constitutional Convention, he was still present to put in his word. As soon as the meetings opened, Henry began to argue against the Constitution. This argument went on for three weeks. Henry was aware that the new government had to be strong, but felt that the Constitution made the central government too powerful. He thought that the power should lay in the hands of the states. "What right had they [the group that wrote the Constitution] to say 'We the people,' instead We, the States?" he demanded.
Around the 1850’s, tension between the Northern states and the Southern states was rising. The issue of slavery was a conflict that greatly contributed to this tension. The Northern and Southern people had very different views on slavery. Most of the Northern people thought that slavery was wrong, while the Southern people thought that slavery was justified. During this time, a court case filed by a black slave against his white slave master occurred and it widened the gap between them even more. The idea of a black man suing for his freedom was ridiculous to most of the Southern people. My second paragraph is about Dred Scott’s life. It will mostly be about his life before the case. The third paragraph will be information about the case in court. It will include many facts from the trials. The fourth paragraph will tell of the United States Supreme Court decision and its effects. It will also include people’s reactions to the final decision.
Speeches are a method of persuading people to do something. For Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, their speeches were to bring equality for the people of color. However, their approaches are different. Consequently, the effects may be different. An example of their contrasting differences is a speech from each, King’s “I Have a Dream” and X’s “The Black Revolution”. Their speeches used pathos, a central metaphor, and a warning, but was presented differently.
Rhetorical Analysis of Artifacts: The Ballot or the Bullet? Speech Given by Malcolm X I. Introduction: Though almost half a century has passed, the Civil War. The Rights Movement remains one freshly imprinted in not only the history. books of US schools, but also in the minds of countless Americans.
The year 1964 is known for civil rights activists, racist groups, and political strife. In order to achieve this goal and increase the speeches effectiveness, X utilizes a variety of rhetorical strategies within his speech. When analyzing the powerful and informative speech of Malcolm X, its evident that it’s a memorable one. The tonality of the speech employs anger and seriousness. This causes the audience to also to be filled with immense anger as he opens their understanding about the disputes going on in the society.
From 1954 to 1968 the Civil Rights movement was growing at a fast rate. During this time segregation and racism was alive and in full effect. More African- American people were starting to stand up and believe in the rights that wasn’t giving to them, and that they should be treated as equals. Although African-Americans had some freedoms the constant mistreatment, verbal and physical abuse was enough and it was time to take a stand to make a change. Great leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X made a path way for the moment and even though the two had different views of handling the situation at hand. Malcom X was more of a fight fire with fire type of protester, and that the only way changes were going to be made was if we fight back. On the other hand Martin Luther King Jr. was all for peaceful protesting and that they can make a difference just by speaking words of encouragement to the people.
“Give me liberty, or give me death.” Patrick Henry is forever noted in history for this famous line during the American Revolution. His contributions to liberty did not stop with the British, however. Patrick Henry was the leader of the Anti-Federalists in the early years of our country. The Anti-Federalists did not want a federal government system, where there is a strong central government, then smaller, state governments. Patrick Henry had his own ideas for a decentralized national government, which he added on to the Constitution during the ratification convention in Virginia.
In Malcom X’s speech “The Ballot or The Bullet,” he first began by saying “Brothers and sisters and friends, and I see some enemies.” His initial voice reflects the realness in his speech, by telling his audience that there were enemies in the room shows a great message that he was most likely referring to the white people in the room. In a way it was a fascinating way touch his listeners. Malcolm X utilizes tone, imagery,
Write an essay in which you explain how Martin Luther King Jr. builds an argument to persuade his audience that American involvement in the Vietnam War is unjust. In your essay, analyze how King uses one or more of the features listed above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your
“I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self defense; I call it intelligence.” were once words spoken from a man greatly known in the African American community. This man was Malcolm X. An expressive public speaker, with a charismatic personality, and an untiring organizer, Malcolm X expressed the pent up anger, frustration, and bitterness of African Americans during the major phase of the civil rights movement from 1955 to 1965. Malcolm X spoke of a violent revolution, which would bring about radical change for the black race, while a man with the name of Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out to all people. Martin Luther King Jr. promoted non-violence, civil rights, and the end to racial segregation, while Malcolm X dreamed of a separate nation for African Americans. Malcolm’s keen intellect, sharp wit, and passionate radicalism are clear in The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley. However Things such as his personality, his career and the impact that he’s had on history may have changed if certain key events in his life had been different.
Mann, Douglas. “Patrick Henry” (Video). Lecture, Red Hill Farm, Brookneal, VA, 2011. http://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_12227_1. (accessed April 2, 2014).
In his essay, Bernard had many writing strategies and components that I found interesting and helpful when writing my own paper. One piece of his essay that I especially liked was his introduction. He began his essay with a quote from a famous person, which inspired me to begin my essay with a quote from someone with higher authority and knowledge on my topic: Wayne LaPierre, National Rifle Association’s President.
Malcolm X's choice of words so that the reader can easily understand, the way he planned out his ideas. and his change of mind throughout the piece show how Malcom X’s experience was diverse and powerful. Two things remain the same throughout all of his writing, and they are his passion and power. These are what impose the importance and significance of the essay into the reader's mind.