Hanan Musa Prof

Hanan Musa
Prof. Mesfin
ENGL 102
Logos, Ethos, Pathos Essay
Nov.4, 2017
The Declaration of Independence
In the essay entitled ”The Declaration of Independence” written by Thomas Jefferson, published on July 1776, the writer has presented the main reasons and evidences why America want to separate from the British colonies. Jefferson described in his first paragraph that the United States of America must separate from the British control because they want to be independent and form their own nation and law. He stated that ”all men are equal” and have the right to live, to get freedom, and to peruse joy. People have the freedom to use their resources and to follow the directions they believe. Jefferson had explained that the purpose of government is to guarantee these rights to the nation. However, when the government is not respecting the citizen’s rights, the nation has the power to destroy and change the government. Moreover, Jefferson has mentioned several complaints that King of Greater Britain had made on American society, such as: unfair taxation, cutting off trade, making arbitrary laws himself, abolishing important laws, and so on. Finally, he concluded that all the representative of the United States of America had declared their independence from British control. In this essay, Jefferson demonstrated logos, ethos, pathos, and Kairos.
Jefferson use Logos in most part of his writing. He uses logical reasoning to express his ideas. First, he showed his reason why the declaration of independence is necessary. For instance, on his first paragraph he stated that ”When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. This quote shows a good example of logos that telreader the reason ” Second, Jefferson stated his argument on the other paragraph which shows another logos. He argues that every human being has equal right. ”They have given life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by their creator.” This argument also demonstrated a logic in another way that Jefferson used the right of people that grab the reader’s attention. Also, he uses historic event to clarify his idea to the reader. He says that” the history of the present King of Great-Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct Object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States”. Moreover, Jefferson use more than twenty facts that clearly showed his evidences. In fact, he mentioned that king of Britain has taken away their right to express their ideas, he has been abused them and control all of their activities, which could prevent them from getting their freedom.
In terms of ethos, Jefferson had a good way of organizing his essays. He first stated the reason of his writing then continues to the main ideas and finally he presented all of his fact that supported the other paragraphs. Also, he uses strong and professional languages to express his thoughts. To illustrate, He “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.” Moreover, Jefferson had presented credibility on his paper. For instance on his last paragraph he states that ”all the representatives of the United State of America has agreed and signed the declaration of independence.”. In addition, he also established ethos when he mentioned what the King of Britain did because all his facts were believable and true. Since Jefferson wrote his own thought, he did not presented a work cited page.