Resistance To Civil Government Rhetorical Analysis

Introduction

As I've studied Henry David Thoreau's essay "Resistance to Civil Government," I've identified the persuasive elements and analyzed a specific portion of the text to create my own argument. In this essay, I will discuss the strengths and weaknesses found throughout both responses through the lens of persuasive analysis in order to prove my ability to utilize rhetorical strategies.
Evaluation of "Analysis of Persuasive Rhetoric" In my first analysis of Thoreau's essay, one of my strengths was being able to identify Thoreau's use of logos, or reasoning. In this instance, Thoreau draws from an example of a popular scholar, Paley, who argues: "'So long as the established government cannot be resisted or changed without public inconveniency, it is the will of God'" (Thoreau). In my analysis, I acknowledged Thoreau's citing of this quote and then demonstrated how he flipped Paley's argument. He reasons with the audience that doing the right thing, though sometimes unpleasant, will yield greater rewards in the long run.

Clearly, he is aware of who he is arguing to and builds his argument accordingly. In the example I used, I showed how Thoreau recognized that not all people would be as devoted to the cause of justice as he, but he called for all men to do their part. A weakness in my analysis of Thoreau's work was in my choice of quotation for Thoreau's use of identification. I was trying to show how Thoreau related to the audience by showing how he addressed the audience using the word "we" rather than "you;" however, the quotation ultimately falls short of identification because it is so brief. With some added context, the quotation may have better exemplified Thoreau's ability to identify with his