Background: There
may be more of a connection between Greece and Maycomb than we’d initially
suspect. Harper Lee names her hero, Atticus, a name which comesfrom the Greek, Attikos, “of Attica,” the region around Athens. With a name derived from the Greeks
we might expect Atticus to resemble other famous Greek heroes: Menelaus, Ajax, Odysseus, Achilles,
Hercules. Atticus, however,
doesn’t earn his heroic appeal through fighting sea monsters, sleeping with
goddesses, or gouging eyes. But, his renown is nonetheless derived from the
values of ancient culture—Atticus is an orator. And perhaps is it no
coincidence that a man named Atticus helped Rome’s most famous orator, Cicero, arrange
his personal library.
ancient rhetoricians would have considered Atticus Finch a heroic speaker. They
believed that true persuasion required ethical, logical, and emotional appeals.
Good speakers, they said, connect with their audience personally,
intellectually, and emotionally. Read over Atticus’s closing statement from
Chapter 20, and identify his use of ethos,
pathos, and logos in persuading the jury to acquit Tom Robinson. [ THIS IS YOUR
ESSAY PROMPT}
Your essay will follow the following format:
Introduction:
·
Start with an enticing lead; you may
want to discuss persuasion in general.
·
Mention title and author.
·
Create a thesis on HOW and TO WHAT
EFFECT Atticus uses ethos, pathos, and logos.
Body
Paragraph 1: Ethos
·
Start with a claim discussing how
Atticus does or does not use ethos within his closing statements and to what
specific ethos effect.
·
Provide at least 2 well-integrated
quotes.
·
Each quote should be cited properly
and followed with a complete warrant.
·
Add a concluding sentence.
Body
Paragraph 2: Pathos
Follow
instructions above discussing how Atticus does or does not use pathos and to
what specific pathos effect.
Body
Paragraph 3: Logos
Follow
instructions above discussing Atticus does or does not use logos and to what
specific logos effect.
Conclusion:
Bring
it together. Review argument.
Analyze
the overall thought behind his speech.
Requirements:
MLA
page and heading format
An
original, creative title
Cite
quotes (Lee 170) or (280).
Lead
into quotes
Clear
transitions