Final answer:
Thomas Paine employs the rhetorical strategy of parallelism in the introduction to his pamphlet, Common Sense. He emphasizes the balanced and logical approach he will take using 'simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense,' which aligns with the rhetorical appeal of logos.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rhetorical Strategy Used by Thomas Paine in Common Sense
Thomas Paine begins his work Common Sense with a particular rhetorical strategy by stating, 'In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense.' The most appropriate answer to what rhetorical strategy is being employed is B. Parallelism. Paine uses parallel structure to express the tools he will employ in his pamphlet - facts, arguments, and common sense - to persuade his audience. This creates a rhythm to his language that emphasizes the equal importance of these three elements in his approach to persuasion.
Paine's writing was known for its direct and simple language that spoke to the common people. His use of plain arguments and facts aligns with the rhetorical appeal of logos, which focuses on presenting logical reasoning and evidence to support an argument. By announcing that he will rely on 'simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense,' Paine strengthens his ethos, establishing himself as a credible source and grounding his arguments in logic, rather than in florid language or emotional appeals. This approach helped make Common Sense widely accessible and influential among the colonies.
Rhetorical devices like similes and metaphors are common in writing, but Paine's rhetorical strategy in the introduction to his pamphlet does not rely on these comparisons. Instead, his strategy is more directly related to presenting a logical and balanced argument to the readers, hence the correct answer to the question is parallelism.