Thomas Jefferson Banneker Rhetorical Analysis

In my rhetorical analysis I analyzed Banneker’s comparison of pre-revolutionary war to slavery, religious references, and tone. I selected Banneker’s descriptive use of imagery to compare the pre-revolution to slavery, because this comparison struck me as a crucial aspect to his argument. Banneker needed Jefferson, a privileged man who never experienced the life of a slave, to feel a personal connection to the situation. By creating a comparison to something that Jefferson had a crucial role in, Banneker attempts to do just that. I fould this comparison an especially powerful way to start of a letter, because it almost forced Jefferson to continue reading, as it brought his life into the equation. Next, I choose to analyse Banneker’s use of religious references because I felt that these references strengthened Jefferson’s connection with his argument against slavery. I especially focused on the quote from Job because I think it made Banneker’s argument more clear and comparable. Jefferson could read Job’s quote and make a connection the the situation of slavery, and thus understand slavery better. Finally, I choose to analyze Banneker’s tone because his tone
My weaknesses fall mostly with the lack of explanation present in my body paragraphs. I feel as if the second I reached a point I simply moved onto the next, as if simply pointing out the strategies was sufficient. Also I do not feel that my incorporation of quotes was sufficient enough for the claims I was making. I feel like they were inserted without explanation. If I could rewrite this essay, I would most definitely work on these weaknesses as well as provide a stronger introduction which better addresses the prompt. Currently standing however, I would give my essay a four because of the lack of development in the body