unit 4: autobiagraphies and speeches.

ELA11w2.2.k: The student uses language, point of view, characterization, style, and related elements effectively for specific rhetorical and aesthetic purposes.

ELAALRL3.1.a.ii: The student relates a literary work to the seminal ideas of the time in which it is set or the time of its composition.

Essential Questions:

• How do speakers and authors use reason as a persuasive tool? Can you think of any modern examples?  Patrick Henry is a example of using reason as a persuasive tool.

• What is the difference between emotion and reason? Emotion involves feelings to persuade, reason is based on facts.
• To what extent are we in controll of our own lives? We are in full control of every choice we make.

Key Terms:

• The Age of Reason / Rationalism

In this term i think ill be learning about how to use reason and emotion, i also think ill be reading about Patrick Henry, and Benjamin Franklin. I think ill be using literary works also.



The Puritans believe heavily that everything is controlled and made by god. The Rationalist believe that there is a theory behind everything. The Rationalist performed science projects to try and find a reason behind the way things on the world works, while the Puritans thought it was disgraceful to god to even try any of these experiments. One common thing that the Puritans and Rationalist believed was that God created the universe.

Benjamin Franklins purpose of writing "Arriving at moral perfection" was to become a better person and a more slef suffiecient person. He noted his faults, and made a proper form of action to resolve his faults. He made a step-by-step list to deal with his faults, and to be more productive. His list consisted of thirteen values; Temperance, Silence, order, resolution, frogality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, chasity and humility. He used logic as his approach to making himself a better person.

If i had thirteen values to improve my life they would be:

1. Respect
2. Honesty
3. Responsibility
4. Inteligence
5. Diet,
6. Exercise
7. Courage
8. Faith
9. Focus
10. Determination
11. Kindness
12. Friendliness
13. Authority

"God helps them that helps themselves."
This quote from Benjamin Franklin stuck out to me because if someone is trying to better themsleves to help theirselves then i believe god would help them. If someone was lazy and didnt try to better themselves i think god wouldnt be too happy with that person and in favor not help that person untill he wanted to do something to better himself.

Speech to the Virginia Convention:

Patrick Henry is trying to persuade his audiance to fight a war against Great Brittain. At the time Great Britain was taxing the colonist and acting as if the colonist were slaves to the king. The reason the colonist moved from England to find a new country was because they wanted freedom, Patrick Henry is trying to make a stand for freedom and for what is right.

He supports his argument with factual statements, England thought the colonies were weak, so they werent fair to the colonies. The colonies wanted complete independence from Britain, Patrick Henry said "Give me liberty or give me death".

Closing:

In this terrm i learned how to use persuasive language and the difference of reason and emotion. I also related literary work to the seminal ideas of the time in which it is set of its composition.