Poor Atticus

Atticus had a tough task- he needed to persuade a tough audience. Did he effectively consider all elements of the rhetorical triangle? Was his closing argument effective? Here is what you guys came up with:

TASK: With a partner, using your knowledge of diction, rhetorical devices and appeals, complete a triple entry journal analyzing the rhetoric of Atticus and the effect on the audience. 5 entries

Atticus Speech	Rhetorical Device/Appeal	Is it Effective?
“In the name of God, do your duty. In the name of God, believe in Tom Robinson.”	Anaphora/ pathos	Him putting God and a black man in the same sentence is not effective. These white southerners regarded God as superior even more than today and associated a black man the devil.
“Which I don’t need to point out to you”	Litote/Ethos	This is ineffective. Sarcasm is humor for the intelligent and he is not understanding his audience. As a large white uneducated audience, they actually do need the message he is trying to relay to be pointed out for them keeping in mind that they are prejudice.
She is a victim of cruel poverty and ignorance	Appeal to pathos	Ineffective because it only succeeds in insulting his audience.
“Now I am confident… come to the decision and restore this man to his family.”		Ineffective because while trying to appeal to their pathos, he was over confident and didn’t consider his audience.