Reading this essay, I felt a strange echo to the Declaration of Independence. In fact, this essay looked as if it was based entirely on the Declaration's structure. I read the bio after I read the essay, and then I understood that is was modeled after the original document.
Like the Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions uses ethos, pathos, and logos in the same manner and order. In the first paragraph, they establish a precedent, presenting a solution to their problems in a similar situation. In the second paragraph, they apply this solution to their own situation, attempting to evoke sympathy in the reader for their situation. This is where the authors employ pathos. By presenting themselves in a sympathetic light, they hope to gain support and convince the reader that their claim is correct, even before they present the evidence. This helps in establishing their argument and proving their claim by mentally proving to the reader that their side of the argument deserves support. In the third paragraph, or collection of smaller paragraphs/statements, the authors present the evidence of oppression of women by society, harking back to the oppression of the colonists by the English crown. This paragraph is where the authors use logos, the "glue" that cements their argument. Hard evidence is difficult to argue with, especially when used in large amounts. This is where the authors truly prove their argument. In the fourth paragraph, they justify their reaction and their own credibility on the matter, finally proving to the reader that their claim is just and persuades the reader to take action. In the final paragraph, the authors declare the action they plan to take and their reasons for this action, based on their previous arguments. However, this is mostly a formal declaration of their claim, which was mainly implied throughout the entire essay.
The Declaration of Independence was a well-structured, strong essay. Since this essay was directly modeled after the Declaration, it is reasonable to say that the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions is also well-structured, strong essay.
Declaration of Independence (DoI) and Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions (DSR) are really really similar in terms of structure. And DoI is obviously written long before DSR was. Two articles resemble in multiple ways. For example, the structure. Both declarations use structure to strengthen the logos argument. First of all, they define the central term they are arguing for: DoI defines what government is while DSR defines what women should enjoy. Then both articles move on to talk about what mischievous crimes has the current system done violating the argument. After that, they pointed out the failure of peaceful protest and in the last paragraph both authors showed their determination to change status quo. Such structure is very powerful.
ReplyDeleteTwo articles also resemble in terms of style, tone, subjects and occasions. And Stanton intentionally did so because such a strategy reminds people of DoI and would take their declaration more seriously. Also it shows the convention's determination to change the history.
The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions’ structure does mimic that of the Declaration of Independence. I think this establishing precedent is something called a syllogism. It is a structure based on reason. The syllogism states an assumption that the crowd can either agree with or disagree with. Sometimes the assumption is fact and when it is, it is impossible to disagree with. Then the second part is stating something related to the assumption. And the last part is connecting the assumption and related sentence by putting their coinciding ideas into one sentence.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the part about all the bad things the men have done serves to make the audience empathize for women is pathos. I also think that making the audience feel pity for women is not the only part that appeals to pathos. Canty included the repetition of the word “he” to emphasize who is to blame for their oppressions. This evokes anger at men by the audience, which is another very important appeal to pathos. Pathos is a very strong and useful tool used by Jefferson and Canty.