Helena Paron Mr.

Schwark English 11 AP 12/27/2012

Benjamin Bennakers Persuasive Writing In Benjamin Bennakers 1791 letter to Thomas Jefferson, he uses diction, details, and syntax to create an effective argument against slavery. His use of accusatory diction appeals to his audiences emotions and stirs guilt and the need to fight for their religious beliefs, while comparing the American Revolution to the slaves current struggles establish his credibility as a speaker. Bennaker also models his syntax after his arguments, such as using lengthier sentences for some topics and shorter statements for others. Benjamin Bennaker uses accusatory diction to appeal to his audiences conscious and inflict guilt. He first addresses his audience directly with a convicting tone, emphasizing how his audience experienced the effects of slavery and witnessed the mistreatment of humans, to rally them to fight for his efforts. Bennaker discusses religion when reminding them that the freedom and tranquility they possess is a blessing from Heaven because of the churchs influence on contemporary minds. He described how his audience felt slavery went against their religious beliefs and was angered by the institution of slavery and its justification through religion, but how their refusal to do anything about it was a criminal act which [they detested] in others, and it was equally as bad as literal slavery. Religion was a common factor between the North and South, and it was also used to justify slavery, which went against Christian beliefs; using religion

to appeal to his audience further motivated them to join the fight against slavery for their religious beliefs. Bennaker relied on using details of slavery and related topics to solidify his argument against slavery. He first asks his audience to recall colonial America under British rule, where England exerted with every powerful effort in order to reduce [the colonies] to a State of Servitude, demanding that his audience remember the conditions the colonists faced. They faced a country divided, negligence for their suffering, and unfair treatment under the rule of another, which Bennaker compared to slavery and their oppression against white southerners to make his audience feel a stronger connection with those suffering under slavery. Bennaker then goes on to quote the Declaration of Independence (a document of pride for Americans) and how it states that all men are created equal, yet slaves were not treated with equality. His use of such documents and the similar struggle with colonists and the British empire solidifies his credibility as a speaker, erasing any skepticism in his audience that their actions would not suffice. Bennakers syntax reflects his several different arguments against slavery. His sentences in the first paragraph are long and winding, reflecting the colonists long struggle against mistreatment from the British Crown. He then ends the paragraph with a straightforward statement about his audiences freedom, something well established and as concrete as his final clause in the paragraph. His following paragraph is composed of two sentences: one broken up by dependent clauses reflecting his accusatory tone, and ending with a direct quote that supports his argument against slavery and establishes Bennaker as a reliable speaker. Bennaker successfully appeals to his audiences emotions when citing religion through his use of accusatory diction. He accuses his audience of turning a blind eye to slavery and

reminds them of the Souths religious justification of human trafficking, thus creating the need to fight for the Norths religious beliefs. Utilizing historical details in his argument against slavery solidifies Benjamin Bennaker as a credible speaker, since it removes any questions his audience may have on the success of rallying against slavery. He supported this fight by comparing it to the American Revolution, a similar war fought for independence of a group of people and won. His syntax reflects his arguments, using long, winding sentences to discuss lengthy wars and shorter statements when questioning his audiences conscious and loyalty to their supposed beliefs.