Final answer:
The first paragraph of Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address previews main points and uses a personal approach to connect with the audience, while the sentence structure maintains engagement, supporting the overall thesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structure of the first paragraph in Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address is crucial in developing his ideas and setting the stage for the speech.
By summing up the points that he will raise, Roosevelt creates a preview of what's to come, which helps the audience to understand and anticipate the structure of his argument. Including the main sub-points in the introduction serves as a roadmap and helps him maintain a clear organization throughout the speech. Additionally, beginning with references to himself and the audience makes the ideas more approachable, creating a connection with the audience that establishes ethos. The variation in sentence length within the paragraph uses a rhetorical strategy to maintain the reader's engagement, balancing detailed points with concise statements.
This architectural approach to speech-writing ensures that each element supports the thesis and builds toward the strategic conclusion intended by Roosevelt.