Great speakers are not merely ones who present a good speech or who arrange a speech well. Rather, such speakers are great because they make compelling and persuasive arguments. To effectively build a sound argument, speakers must develop one or more proofs, which include logos, ethos, pathos, and mythos (See Chapter 15, pages 341-345 for more on proofs). As students, scholars, and citizens, we can learn from such great moments in oratory history by studying great speakers’ use of these proofs. This discussion asks you to do just that.
Choose a speech from the following list of “great speeches” of the 20th century, except the first one (Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech): Top 100 speeches.
Read (and perhaps listen to or watch) your chosen speech and identify one instance each in which the speaker appeals to logos, ethos, pathos, and mythos (four instances total), which are discussed on pages 341-344 in Chapter 15 of the textbook. Analyze how the speaker’s use of these proofs enhances their effectiveness as a persuasive speaker.
