Powerful Oration Assessment

You will select a pair of speeches from the options given in the lesson. You will read
each speech, taking note of their central ideas, purposes, and use of rhetoric. There are
three steps in this assignment:

Step 1: Select a pair of speeches from your options in the lesson and read both. Remember, the speeches you could
select from were:
 John C. Calhoun's "Speech on Abolition Petitions" and Abraham Lincoln's "A House Divided"
 President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Speech to Congress on Voting Rights” and Congresswoman Shirley
Chisholm’s “For the Equal Rights Amendment”
 Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy’s 1960 United States Presidential Debate
opening statements

Step 2: Complete the chart with your analysis.

 Speech Pair Selection: John C. Calhoun's "Speech on Abolition Petitions" and Abraham Lincoln's "A
House Divided"

Speech 1 Analysis
State the central idea of Speech 1 in one sentence: John C. Calhoun’s “Speech on
Central Idea Abolition Petitions” argues that Congress should even look at petitions to end slavery
because it could cause big problems between states and hurt the rights of slave

In 2-3 sentences, explain what information from the speech helped to develop the
Supporting Details central idea: in his speech, John C. Calhoun stresses that slavery is very important for
the South’s economy and society. He thinks talking about ending slavery could cause
big problems and even break up the country.
Identify one rhetorical appeal used in this speech: is pathos appears to emotions and
fear about threatening the slave

Provide an example of this rhetorical appeal from this speech: is when he warns that
allowing anti-slavery petitions in congress could lead to constant arguing and division
this make people worry about whether the nation could stay together
Rhetorical Appeal
In one sentence, explain why this appeal is appropriate in developing the speaker's
central idea: the appeal to emotions helps make people worry about how anti-slavery
petitions could split the country apart, which support Calhoun’s argument to protect
the unity of the nation

Rhetorical Device Identify one rhetorical device used in this speech: Asyndeton Calhoun uses it when
he lists problems like “endless agitation, endless strife, endangering harmony” to
make each issue stand out more

Provide an example of this rhetorical device from this speech: “Endless agitation,
endless strife, endangering harmony.”

In one sentence, explain how this device is effective in developing the speaker's
central idea: by listing problems without using “and” or but “but,” Calhoun shows
how anti-slavery petitions could lead to serious issues making his point bout the
dangers they pose more forceful

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 Speech 2 Analysis

State the central idea of Speech 2 in one sentence: Abraham Lincoln’s “A house
divided” speech argues that a nation divided against itself cannot endure, predicting
Central Idea that the United States will either become all slave or all free, but not remain divided.

In 2-3 sentences, explain what information from the speech helped to develop the
Supporting Details central idea: In his speech, Abraham Lincoln talks about how slavery is causing big
disagreements between states. He says the country can't stay divided forever—
eventually, it will have to be all free or all slave to stay together.
Identify one rhetorical appeal used in this speech: One rhetorical appeal used in
Abraham Lincoln's speech is logos (logic)

Provide an example of this rhetorical appeal from this speech: Lincoln argues that
slavery will either stop spreading and eventually die out, or it will become legal
everywhere in the United States.
Rhetorical Appeal

In one sentence, explain why this appeal is appropriate in developing the speaker's
central idea: This logical appeal is effective because it lays out a clear and reasoned
prediction about the future of slavery, based on the choices and actions of society

Identify one rhetorical device used in this speech: One rhetorical device used in
Abraham Lincoln's speech is antithesis

Provide an example of this rhetorical device from this speech: Lincoln contrasts two
opposite outcomes: either slavery will be stopped and fade away, or it will spread
everywhere and become legal in all states.
Rhetorical Device

In one sentence, explain how this device is effective in developing the speaker's
central idea: In Lincoln's speech, he uses a contrast called antithesis. He says either
slavery will end and disappear, or it will spread across all states and become legal
everywhere. This makes his point about the urgent need to decide the future of
slavery in America very clear.

Step 3: Complete the chart with your reflection.

Reflection
In 2-3 sentences, explain the difference in purpose between Speech 1 and Speech 2:
Purpose Speech 1 by John C. Calhoun defends slavery and says Congress shouldn't talk about
anti-slavery petitions to keep the country together. Speech 2 by Abraham Lincoln

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 talks about how slavery is splitting the country and says we need to decide whether to
end it or let it spread everywhere to unite the nation.

In 2-3 sentences, explain how the authors' use of evidence or examples supported
their arguments or messages differently: John C. Calhoun uses examples to show how
Support
ending slavery petitions could hurt the South and national unity. Abraham Lincoln
uses examples to show how slavery is splitting the country and could break it apart.
In 2-3 sentences, explain how the authors' intended outcomes or purposes for their
speeches shaped their rhetorical choices: John C. Calhoun wanted to protect slavery
and Southern interests, so he talked about its benefits and warned against anti-slavery
Rhetorical Choices
petitions. Abraham Lincoln aimed to show how slavery divides the country and urged
for unity and an end to slavery, using moral arguments and highlighting the dangers
of division.
In 2-3 sentences, explain which speech you found more effective in achieving its
intended goal and why: Abraham Lincoln's speech is more effective because it clearly
shows why slavery is causing big problems and why the country needs to stay united
Effectiveness to solve them.

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Powerful Oration Rubric

On Target Almost There Needs Improvement

15-12 points 11-9 points 8-0 points

 The central idea is  The central idea is stated  The central idea is
clearly stated in one but may lack clarity, missing or unclear,
sentence, supporting supporting details are supporting details are
details effectively somewhat developed but either absent or lack
connect relevant could better connect to sufficient detail and
information to the the central idea, and connection to the central
central idea, and both the while a rhetorical appeal idea, and the
Speech 1
identified rhetorical and/or device is identification of a
Analysis
appeal and device are identified, the rhetorical appeal and/or
(15 points)
accurately presented explanation may not device may be
with examples that fully illustrate an inaccurate or missing,
demonstrate an understanding of its use, with explanations that do
understanding of their appropriateness, and not effectively
use, appropriateness, and effectiveness. demonstrate an
effectiveness. understanding of their
use, appropriateness, and
effectiveness.

15-12 points 11-9 points 8-0 points

 The central idea is  The central idea is stated  The central idea is
clearly stated in one but may lack clarity, missing or unclear,
sentence, supporting supporting details are supporting details are
details effectively somewhat developed but either absent or lack
connect relevant could better connect to sufficient detail and
information to the the central idea, and connection to the central
central idea, and both the while a rhetorical appeal idea, and the
Speech 2 identified rhetorical and/or device is identification of a
Analysis appeal and device are identified, the rhetorical appeal and/or
(15 points) accurately presented explanation may not device may be
with examples that fully illustrate an inaccurate or missing,
demonstrate an understanding of their with explanations that do
understanding of their use, appropriateness, and not effectively
use, appropriateness, and effectiveness. demonstrate an
effectiveness. understanding of their
use, appropriateness, and
effectiveness.

20-16 points 15-12 points 11-0 points

 The difference in  The explanation of the  The explanation of the

Reflection purpose between Speech difference in purpose difference in purpose
1 and Speech 2 is between Speech 1 and between Speech 1 and
(20 points) effectively explained. Speech 2 is present but Speech 2 is missing or
 The explanation of how may lack some clarity or unclear.
the authors' use of depth.  The explanation of how
evidence or examples  The explanation of how the authors' use of

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 supported their the authors' use of evidence or examples
arguments or messages evidence or examples supported their arguments
is well-detailed. supported their or messages is either
 The impact of the arguments or messages absent or lacks detail.
authors' intended could be more detailed.  The discussion of the
outcomes on their  The discussion of the authors' intended
rhetorical choices is authors' intended outcomes shaping their
effectively discussed. outcomes shaping their rhetorical choices is
 A clear preference for rhetorical choices is insufficient.
one speech's somewhat developed but  The explanation of which
effectiveness is provided may benefit from more speech is more effective
with a well-justified depth. and why is either missing
explanation.  While a preference for or inadequately justified.
one speech's
effectiveness is given,
the justification may be
somewhat lacking in
detail or clarity.

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Cloud™ is a trademark of Florida Virtual School.