Essay 1: Appeals and the Press
In class thus far we have studied the history of the abolitionist period and read appeals and fiery abolitionist and pro-slavery newspapers. These writers use a variety of arguments and appeals to convince their readers that they’re telling the truth about slavery, its insidious roots, and the wide-ranging impact this institution has on everyone and everything it touches. For your first response paper youll be presenting your own take on abolitionist arguments and appeals.
Write a 1200 words double-spaced essay appropriate for an academic audience in which you:
- Choose one major argument or appeal from what we’ve read thus far (choose one specific, brief passage that you can discuss in detail). Explain why you think it’s an effective persuasion — why do you think the moment you chose is a particularly good way for writers to convince readers about the truth of slavery?
- Show the reader how the argument or appeal you’re focusing on appears in one or two other texts we’ve read thus far. Where do you see writers using a similar strategy to the one you chose?
- Explain the implications of the argument or appeal you chose for our understanding of the texts and/or abolition movement. What does your analysis show us about the abolitionists’ goals, strategies, and/or tactics? Lydia Maria Child, William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimke, and the Pro-Slavery Press
Requirements: 1200 | .doc file

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