Today, childhoods are nostalgically reminisced as times of innocence, adventure, and pure fun. We began our nights with fantastical tales of pink elephants, chivalrous princes, and mean witches, and ended it peacefully, comforted by the knowledge of the famed happily-ever-after. But once upon a time, not even a century ago, children toiled night and day in an effort to help their struggling families. While everyone rested blissfully, thanking Jesus for their satin sheets, these children dragged their "midnight luncheons" to sweatshops to produce the most meager of wages. In her speech, Florence Kelley utilizes the conventions of ethos, pathos, and logos to advance her policy for child labor laws and female political action: her use of diction, keen rhetoric, and command over structure develop a compelling argument. Kelley cleverly appeals to her audience (Women's Suffrage Convention) and effectively combines the fight for enfranchisement with the fight for child labor laws. She begins by quoting the census and reciting testimonies, eventually using them to evoke guilt in her audience. Her effortless transition between fact and emotion make the logos appear like pathos. Her words are powerful; she calls the children, "little beasts of burden," showing that their conditions fare little better than that of animals. Kelley's urgent, exclamatory tone serves as a call to action, as she enlists women across America to join her cause.
I really like your use of the puzzle paragraph terms. I also like how you state that Kelley uses ethos, pathos, and logos in her speech. I agree that Kelley uses an urgent, exclamatory tone to persuade her audience.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Anki! The beginning of the piece was so well-written and descriptive. I thought your piece resembled Kelley's in the way you wrote it. You did a really good job of summarizing her argument too!
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