04.05B Speech Analysis Evaluate Sample Essay

AP English Language and Composition Observe and Reflect: Respond to the following questions using complete sentences: 1. What is the exam prompt asking students to do? The exam prompt is asking students to write an essay in which they analyze the methods which Alfred M. Green used to convince African Americans to join the Union force during the American Civil War. 2. How would you compare Green's tone with Lincoln's? Do you observe similarities in their style? What are the most influential rhetorical strategies used by each speaker? Green’s tone was persuasive, and it differs from Lincoln’s as his tone was of graveness. There is a plethora of similarities between Alfred Green and Abraham Lincoln’s style specifically since both speak about the American Civil War and their interpretations of what it means to be an American. The most influential rhetorical strategy used by Alfred Green is historical allusion. Green reminds how poorly African Americans have been treated in the past, to persuade his African American audience to support the Union. Abraham Lincoln’s most influential rhetorical strategy was his diction and syntax used, Lincoln used long and highly punctuated sentences to keep his audience wanting more of what he was saying. He also appealed to the emotions of his audience with patriotism. 3. What is each speaker’s purpose for giving his speech? Explain. Alfred M. Green’s purpose for giving his speech was to persuade African Americans to join the Union force through historical allusions of how poorly Black Americans were treated. Abraham Lincoln’s purpose for giving his speech was to honor those who had died in the war, as well as to remind the American audience and people of the implications of the war and the revolutionary ideals which influenced the founding of our country. 4. Identify three strengths of the highest-scoring essay. Be specific. What could the writer of the lowest-scoring essay have done to improve his or her score? Be specific. Three strengths of the highest-scoring essay are providing context to support the methods which were found, explaining Alfred M. Green’s use of pronouns throughout his speech and elaborating on the transitions of the speakers from one ideal to another. The writer of the lowest-scoring essay could have analyzed more the speeches rather than summarizing what they were about. I’ve been told that this is something graders might become annoyed at as it is unoriginal and pointless. The writer of the lowest-scoring essay also lacked evidence regarding Green’s methods. 5. Examine the use of textual evidence in each student essay and comment on the types of evidence each student uses. What do you notice about the use of textual evidence in each essay? How is the highest-scoring essay’s use of eviden