People and Peace Not Profits and War Rhetorical Analysis

Analyze how Shirley Chisholm's choice to present herself "as a teacher, and as a woman" rather than emphasizing her position as a Congresswoman impacts her ethos in the speech.

• It diminishes her authority and makes her argument less credible.

• It aligns her with the everyday experiences of her audience, enhancing her credibility.

• It distracts from her main argument about the Vietnam War.

• It emphasizes her lack of experience in political matters.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Evaluate the effectiveness of Chisholm's use of contrasts (e.g., "weapons vs. children") in her argument. What is the strategic purpose of these contrasts?

• To confuse the audience with unrelated comparisons.

• To highlight the inequities in government spending priorities.

• To emphasize the importance of military spending.

• To suggest that education is less important than defense.

What reasoning does Chisholm use to argue against the continuation of the Vietnam War, and how does it reflect her strategic thinking?

• She argues that the war is popular and should continue, reflecting a lack of strategic thinking.

• She suggests that the war is necessary for national security, showing strategic alignment with the administration.

• She argues that domestic issues like education and poverty are more pressing, using evidence of federal budget allocations.

• She claims that the war is a distraction from international diplomacy efforts.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

How does Chisholm's reference to President Nixon's previous statements serve her argument strategically?

• It undermines her argument by showing inconsistency.

• It strengthens her argument by holding Nixon accountable to his promises.

• It distracts from her main point about education funding.

• It suggests that Nixon's policies are irrelevant to her argument.

In what way does Chisholm's tone contribute to the urgency of her message?

• Her tone is dismissive, which reduces the urgency of her message.

• Her tone is sarcastic, which confuses the audience about the urgency.

• Her tone is urgent and idealistic, which emphasizes the need for immediate action.

• Her tone is indifferent, which downplays the importance of her message.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What strategic reasoning does Chisholm use to justify her decision to vote "No" on defense funding bills?

• She believes that defense spending is the only way to ensure national security.

• She argues that reallocating funds to social programs will better serve the American people.

• She thinks that defense spending is already too low.

• She wants to increase taxes to fund both defense and social programs.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

How does Chisholm's strategic use of historical references, such as quoting Calvin Coolidge, enhance her argument?

• It weakens her argument by focusing on outdated policies.

• It strengthens her argument by showing a historical pattern of misplaced priorities.

• It distracts from her main point about the Vietnam War.

• It suggests that past presidents were more effective than the current administration.

Analyze how Chisholm's strategic choice to not emphasize racial tensions impacts her argument.

• It weakens her argument by ignoring a significant issue.

• It strengthens her argument by focusing on universal issues that affect all Americans.

• It distracts from her main point about education funding.

• It suggests that racial tensions are not relevant to her argument.

What is the strategic significance of Chisholm's decision to quote the Kerner Commission in her speech?

• It undermines her argument by introducing irrelevant information.

• It strengthens her argument by providing authoritative evidence of domestic issues.

• It distracts from her main point about defense spending.

• It suggests that the Commission's findings are outdated.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Evaluate Chisholm's strategic use of the phrase "People and Peace, Not Profits and War" in the context of her speech.

• It weakens her argument by oversimplifying complex issues.

• It strengthens her argument by succinctly summarizing her main point.

• It distracts from her main point about education funding.

• It suggests that profits are more important than peace.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3