2.03 Structure as Rhetorical Strategy.\  Scott High School, Madison EVERYTHING Everything

Katelyn Miller
10/5/17
2.03 Structure as Rhetorical Strategy
1. What is the historical context of Henry’s speech? What is the basic question being debated
at the Virginia Convention?
Henry’s speech occurred when the colonists were waiting on an answer from the Crown of England
on their latest reconciliation petition. The basic question was whether to go with a peaceful solution
to the dispute or to prepare their country for war.
2. Who is Henry’s audience?
His audience was the members at the third Virginia Convention.
3. What examples of supporting evidence does Henry provide to support his thesis? How
effective would this evidence be to his audience?
Henry’s thesis is that the British are perhaps too strong to fight and can’t be trusted, but they must
fight because not fighting will lead to things getting worse and losing more freedom. Key evidence
that he provides is that the British will take their arms and station themselves outside their houses.
Henry argues that if it’s not now, it will be never. This evidence is effective because it builds a strong
sense of nationalism and shows that although the timing is not ideal, it will be much harder to fight in
the future.
4. What is the counterargument and how does Henry refute it?
“Shall we try argument?” is the counterargument which is then followed by the refute of “Sir, we
have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have
petitioned; we have supplicated; we have protested ourselves before the throne…”
5. What style of argument does Henry most closely follow? How can you tell?
He most closely uses the Toulmin Argument. This can be seen because he is able to propose his
claim and then propose justification along with his meaning to find a middle ground opposed to
“winning”.
6. Find an example of a rhetorical question in Henry’s speech. Analyze the point he is trying to
make in your identified example.
Henry uses the rhetorical question “Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying
supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have
bound us hand and foot?” Through that, Henry is trying to get the point across that they need to
do something and not sit around and hope nothing happens.