Washington published his “Farewell Address” in September of 1796 in the twilight of his second term as the first President of the United States. In the address, Washington discusses his desire for retirement and offers his ideas for the proper course the nation ought to take in the future, underlining the need to avoid party politics and foreign entanglements. Washington generously employs the the three rhetorical appeals—ethos, pathos, and logos—in an effort to impart his wisdom before leaving office.

Skills: analysis, close reading, drawing inferences from text, examining the impact of diction on audience

About This Document

The Owl Eyes Rhetorical Appeals activity gives students an opportunity to practice examining and analyzing the Aristotelian rhetorical appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos. Students will analyze selected rhetorical appeals from the text to determine which appeal they best represent and explain the appeal’s impact. The main components include the following:

• A brief introduction to the text
• A detailed handout on rhetorical appeals
• A list of tips for spotting rhetorical appeals
• A step-by-step guide to activity procedure
• A detailed answer key for teachers

In completing this worksheet, students will be able to examine and analyze Aristotle’s three rhetorical appeals in order to evaluate works of rhetoric and the techniques they employ.