SOAPStone - The Gettysburg Address

Delivered by President Abraham Lincoln at the Dedication of the Cemetery at Gettysburg

November 19, 1863

Directions: Read over the speech with a partner or in small groups to analyze for SOAPStone

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation,
Notes :
conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so

conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that

war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those

who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that

we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not

hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have

consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor

long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us

the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought

here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the

great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased

devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we

here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under

God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the

people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Speaker: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Occasion: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Audience: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Purpose: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: _____________________________________________________________________________________
tone: ________________________________________________________________________________________
 Rhetorical Appeals - The Gettysburg Address
Directions: Read over the speech with a partner or in small groups. Select three different
color highlighters and highlight examples of ethos, pathos, and logos. Use the boxes by each
appeal to color-code your annotating.

Ethos Pathos Logos

How did Abraham Lincoln use each rhetorical appeal?

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Why was each rhetorical appeal effective ?

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Which rhetorical appeal was most effective and why?

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 Rhetorical Devices - The Gettysburg Address
Delivered by President Abraham Lincoln at the Dedication of the Cemetery at Gettysburg
November 19, 1863

Directions: Read over the speech with a partner or in small groups to analyze for SOAPStone

Formal  language  establishes  ethos.  Emo3onal  language,  the  repeated  use  of  “we”,  and  the  emphasis  on  the  
soldiers’  ac3ons  establish  pathos.  

Four score and seven years ago (logos and a biblical allusion) our fathers brought forth on this

continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty (metaphor for how this country was established),

and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal (allusion).

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived

and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come

to dedicate (anaphora) a portion of that field, (antithesis) as a final resting place for those who

here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting (alliteration) and proper that

we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this

ground (parallel structure). The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have

consecrated it, far above our poor power (alliteration) to add or detract. The world will little note,

nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the

living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus

far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated (repetition, and switch to passive

voice) to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased

devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly

resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new

birth of freedom (metaphor) -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people,

shall not perish from the earth.

 Annotation Key - The Gettysburg Address
Delivered by President Abraham Lincoln at the Dedication of the Cemetery at Gettysburg
November 19, 1863

Directions: Read over the speech with a partner or in small groups to analyze for SOAPStone

Meaning  87  years  ago   ?

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation,
What  our  country  was  founded  on  
conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Def:  a  statement  of  opinion     Can  ANY  
repe33on   na3on  with  
Principles   Time  period  of  text   !   similar  values  
(liberty)ouNow we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so con3nue  to  
r  country   exist?  
was   conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We
founded   Author’s  
on  are   have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave purpose  
now    
under  
their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do
aJack  

this. Contrast  between  lives  and  live   Allitera3on  of  

? What  should   the  “F”  sound  
be  done?  
The  use  of  three  is  a  powerful  technique.  
1   2   3  
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow --
Def:  dedicated  to  a  sacred  purpose  
this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far
Not  just  the  US,  but  the  en3re  world  
above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what

we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be
Call  to  ac3on  
dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly

advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that

from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the
Powerful  
and   last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have
inspira3onal  
words   died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that
1   2   3   Another  use  of  three  to  create  a  las3ng  impression.  
government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
 
 Annotation Guide
Symbol Guide Action
circle Powerful words and phrases Write and explain why these
words and phrases are
powerful. Diction = author’s
word choice

underline Words or phrases you do not If you cannot identify the word
understand. Try to use context clues in with context clues, go back
the text to help you write a definition in and write in the definition
the margins

? Place a question mark next to text that

raises questions
Explain why this part of the text
made you question it. Write
down any connections or
inferences you can make in the
margins.

! Place an exclamation point next to

ideas that surprise you
Explain why it surprised you.

Draw arrows when you make a Write the connections down.

connection to the text, ideas, or Why are these connected?
experiences Explain what the connections
mean.

EX Write “EX” next to the author’s examples Explain the author’s example
and how it helps the author
prove his/her point.

1, 2, 3 Number the author’s arguments, key Explain the arguments. Identify

details, and important ideas which argument/detail is the
strongest.

WRITE Write important thoughts and Write any thoughts or ideas you
connection in the margins have while reading.

WRITE Write questions you have about the Write any questions you have
reading in the margins while reading. Go back and
answer the questions.

Helpful Hints :
•  Only mark up materials that belong to you
•  Read with a pencil in your hand
•  Be consistent with your symbols
•  Always try to include notes along with your symbols
•  Go back and answer questions and define unknown words
 Rhetorical Devices
Device Definition
The repetition of the same
alliteration sound or letter at the
beginning of several words in
a sequence.
A short reference to a familiar
allusion person, place, thing, or
event.
The repetition of the same
anaphora word or words at the
beginning of successive
phrases or sentences.
A comparison of two different
metaphor things by speaking about one
in terms of the other.
A list of successive words or
parallelism phrases with the same or very
similar grammatical structure.
The comparison of two unlike
simile things by using the words
“like” or “as.”
Rhetorical Appeals
ethos: appeal to authority and credibility
pathos: appeal to emotions
logos: appeal to logic and fact
Example
“This sweltering
summer…”
“Five score years ago…”
This is an allusion to
Abraham Lincoln’s
“Gettysburg Address”
“One hundred years
later…” “One hundred
years later…”
“But we refuse to believe
that the bank of justice is
bankrupt.”
“And they have come to
realize that their freedom
is inextricably bound to
our freedom.”
“Righteousness like a
mighty stream…”
 Name: _____________________________________________________ Date: ________________ Per: _______

SOAPStone Analysis
Directions: Using the text from a speech, fill out the chart identifying the SOAPStone of the text.
Text: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Speaker

O Occasion

Audience

A
Purpose

P
Subject

tone
 Name: _____________________________________________________ Date: ________________ Per: _______

Rhetorical Appeals : Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Directions: Using the text from a speech, fill out the chart by citing text from the speech, identifying
whether it is ethos, pathos, or logos, and explaining the impact that the words have on the
meaning of the text.

ethos: appeal to authority and credibility

pathos: appeal to emotions
logos: appeal to logic and fact

Text: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Author/Speaker: ______________________________________________________________________________

Text E/P/L Purpose

Name: _____________________________________________________ Date: ________________ Per: _______

Rhetorical Devices
Directions: Using the text from a speech, fill out the chart by citing text from the speech, identifying
which rhetorical device is being used, and explaining the impact that the words have on the meaning
of the text.

Text Rhetorical Device Purpose

 Name: _____________________________________________________ Date: ________________ Per: _______

Rhetorical Triangle
Directions: Using the text from a speech, fill out the rhetorical triangle below by identifying the
speaker, context, purpose, subject, and audience. Then, write a summary of the speech.

SPEAKER: Who is the author/speaker of the text?

AUDIENCE: Who is the intended audience for this speech?
SUBJECT: What is speech mostly about?
CONTEXT: What was happening in history at the time this speech was given?
PURPOSE: Why do you think the speaker gave this speech?

Speaker:  ______________________________________________________________________________  
 
Context:  _____________________________   Purpose:  _______________________________  
_______________________________________              _______________________________________  
______________________________________                    ______________________________________  
____________________________________                              ___________________________________  
__________________________________                                    __________________________________  
_________________________________                                          _________________________________  
_______________________________                                              ________________________________  
   
Subject:  ____________________   Audience:  ___________________  
____________________________                                                              ____________________________  
__________________________                                                                    ___________________________  
________________________                                                                          _________________________  
_______________________                                                                              ________________________  
                                                                               
Summary:  _____________________________________________________________________________  
 
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________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________  
 Name: _____________________________________________________ Date: ________________ Per: _______

Rhetorical Analysis Précis

A rhetorical précis is similar to a summary, but it less neutral and contains rhetorical
analysis. A rhetorical précis is a brief representation of what a text both says and does.

Sentence One: Name of author, genre, and title of work + a rhetorically strong verb + and a THAT
clause containing the major assertion or thesis in the text.
 
Sentence Two: An explanation of how the author develops and supports the thesis/main point.
 
Sentence Three: A statement of the author’s purpose, followed by an “in order to” phrase.
 
Sentence Four: A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author
establishes with the audience.
 
__________________________ in the ________________ , ________________________________ ,
(Who/What?)
Sentence One

 
__________________________ that ____________________________________________________

 
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________.
 
Sentence Two

 
(How?)

_________________________ supports his/her ___________________ by ___________________

 
___________________________________________________________________________________
 

___________________________________________________________________________________
 
Sentence Three

 
(Why?)

The author’s purpose is to __________________________________________________________

 
__________________________________ in order to / so that ______________________________
 

___________________________________________________________________________________
Sentence Four
(To Whom?)

___________________________________________________________________________________.
 

The author writes in ____________________tone for ____________________________________.

 Rhetorical Analysis
Name: __________________________________________ Per: ______

Text: _______________________________________________________
Rhetorical Devices Author/Speaker: ____________________________________________

Writing about Rhetorical Devices

DIRECTIONS: In a one-paragraph response, answer the prompt. Your paragraph should include
a detailed topic sentence, two quotes that support your topic sentence, and commentary that
not only explains your quotes but also analyzes the text on a deeper level.

WRITING PROMPT: Authors include rhetorical devices in their writing to enhance their
message. Identify two rhetorical devices in the text and explain how the author’s use of
these devices enhances the author’s message or the meaning for the audience.

Brainstorm & Outline

DETAIL SENTENCE

GENRE: ______________________ TITLE: ________________________________________________

Topic

AUTHOR: ___________________________________ RESTATE THE PROMPT: __________________

____________________________________________________________________________________
Concrete

INTRO THE QUOTE: __________________________________________________________________

QUOTE: ____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________ CITATION: (_______________).

COMMENTARY: Explain the quote and how it proves your topic sentence.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Concrete

INTRO THE QUOTE: __________________________________________________________________

DETAIL

QUOTE: ____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________ CITATION: (_______________).

COMMENTARY: Explain the quote and how it proves your topic sentence.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Wrap CONCLUDING STATEMENT: Final thought & analysis of prompt

IT UP _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
 Rhetorical Analysis
Name: __________________________________________ Per: ______

Text: _______________________________________________________
Rhetorical Appeals Author/Speaker: ____________________________________________

Writing about Rhetorical Appeals

DIRECTIONS: In a one-paragraph response, answer the prompt. Your paragraph should include
a detailed topic sentence, two quotes that support your topic sentence, and commentary that
not only explains your quotes but also analyzes the text on a deeper level.

WRITING PROMPT: Authors include rhetorical appeals in their writing to enhance their
message. Identify two rhetorical appeals in the text and explain how the author’s use of
these appeals enhances the author’s message or the meaning for the audience.

Brainstorm & Outline

DETAIL SENTENCE

GENRE: ______________________ TITLE: ________________________________________________

Topic

AUTHOR: ___________________________________ RESTATE THE PROMPT: __________________

____________________________________________________________________________________
Concrete

INTRO THE QUOTE: __________________________________________________________________

QUOTE: ____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________ CITATION: (_______________).

COMMENTARY: Explain the quote and how it proves your topic sentence.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Concrete

INTRO THE QUOTE: __________________________________________________________________

DETAIL

QUOTE: ____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________ CITATION: (_______________).

COMMENTARY: Explain the quote and how it proves your topic sentence.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Wrap CONCLUDING STATEMENT: Final thought & analysis of prompt

IT UP _____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________