Question

Read this excerpt from Thomas Paine's essay "Common Sense":

Mankind being originally equals in the order of creation, the equality could only be destroyed by some subsequent circumstance; the distinctions of rich, and poor, may in a great measure be accounted for, and that without having recourse1 to the harsh, ill-sounding names of oppression and avarice2. Oppression is often the CONSEQUENCE, but seldom or never the MEANS3 of riches; and though avarice will preserve a man from being necessitously poor, it generally makes him too timorous4 to be wealthy.

But there is another and greater distinction, for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men into KINGS and SUBJECTS. Male and female are the distinctions of nature, good and bad the distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species, is worth inquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind.

recourse: source of help
avarice: greed
means: method for accomplishing or obtaining something
timorous: fearful
Which rhetorical strategy does the author most rely on in this excerpt?

A.
an appeal to logic
B.
an appeal to emotion
C.
rhetorical questions
D.
figurative language

Answer 1

Answer: A. an appeal to logic

Explanation: The title "Common Sense" is in Its self an appeal to logic and with this book being about Common Sense or logic that would be the most correct answer.

(PS: I also got it right of the assignment)

Answer 2

The rhetorical strategy that the author most rely on in this excerpt is an appeal to logic.

Answer: A.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thomas Paine’s book ‘Common Sense’ is a book in which Paine had put forward his arguments regarding the independent and Democratic republic. The excerpt mentioned above is a part of ‘Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession’ from his book Common Sense where the author have relied on an appeal to logic.

Appeal to logic is one type of rhetorical appeal which is also called Logos, where the author persuades his readers through reasoning. If we look at the excerpt, we will figure out that Paine have made use of logic throughout the excerpt be it while discussing about oppression, race, or the distinction made between rice AMD poor, men and women.