Elements of Persuasion
Sojourner Truth was an eloquent speaker and a social activist who employed several rhetorical devices in her speeches and writings. Analyzing some of her works utilizing the Persuasion Triad model provides evidence of her ability to appeal to the audience’s logos, pathos, and ethos. When it comes to logos, Truth effectively applies logical reasoning in her speeches and writings as she offends the dominant social paradigms of her time. Taking her powerful speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” she squarely declared, “I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me. And ain’t I a woman?” This logical reasoning based on her own experiences provides a solid counter-argument to the claim that women are innately inferior to men, which is a mockery of reason (IxDF, 2016). It is evident that logos forms the strong base for all the persuasion that Truth uses in her argumentation.
Not only did Truth use logos or logical appeal, but she had mastered pathos as well. Saying, “Where is your Christ? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with him” (Rev, n.d.). This allusion to the divinity of Christ appeals to the spirituality of the listeners, appeals to their feelings, and thus helps her to fortify her argument. This capability of making her listeners feel the pain that she is going through is an effective strategy in addition to the logical appeals that Truth uses. Therefore, Truth uses the combination of both the rational and the emotional appeal as a convincing persuasive strategy.
In addition, Truth was able to enhance her argument with ethos. Given the fact that she was once a slave and managed to liberate herself, she has the right to say, “I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me!” (Rev, n.d.). These words strengthen her testimony and establish her as a credible speaker who knows firsthand the suffering of enslaved people (IxDF, 2016). The revelation of her personal life and the adversity she has had to overcome make her message more credible and, therefore, more powerful.
Combining all three elements of persuasion, Truth is able to create an effective and memorable rhetorical strategy. Her logical argument, appeal to emotions, and ethos create strong arguments to combat the prevailing social paradigms of her time and fight for the rights of women and African Americans. The harmonious manner in which logos, pathos, and ethos are employed in her speech boosts the logical and emotional appeal of the arguments presented.
Additionally, Truth also understands all three elements of the Persuasion Triad and is aware of the nature of the intended audience and the circumstances linked to them. Employing the most appropriate appeals when addressing the target group, she comes up with the most effective message in altering their perception. This sensitivity to the audience and the social and cultural setting in which she is speaking enhances the persuasiveness of her message.
In conclusion, Sojourner Truth was able to use logos, pathos, and ethos in her speech. All these elements of persuasion are seamlessly woven into the speech, making her deliver a speech that is appealing to the audience and which effectively advances her agenda to a great extent. Through the appeal to the audience’s reason and emotion, paired with her firsthand experience of oppression, Truth makes her rhetoric effective.
References
Interaction Design Foundation – IxDF. (2016, January 4). The persuasion triad — Aristotle Still Teaches. Interaction Design Foundation – IxDF. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/the-persuasion-triad-aristotle-still-teaches
Rev.(n.d.). “Ain’t I a Woman?” Speech Transcript – Sojourner Truth. In Rev.com. https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/aint-i-a-woman-speech-transcript-sojourner-truth
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Question 
Elements of Persuasion
Assignment Content
In an essay of 4-6 paragraphs, discuss what elements of persuasion Sojourner Truth uses effectively. Keep in mind the reading on The Persuasion Triad.
Use specific quotes with accompanying citations from Truth’s writing.