Name:____________________________________ Date:________________________ Period:________
Movie Clip Rhetorical Analysis Introduction
Braveheart
Context: Braveheart is a 1995 film about William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish warrior who led the Scots in the First
War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England, a particularly cruel English king. This speech is given right
before a battle between the Scots and the English. The Scottish warriors are apprehensive about fighting this battle
because they think they are outnumbered, and out matched. William Wallace delivers this speech right before they fight.
Speech:
WALLACE: Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace.
YOUNG SOLDIER: William Wallace is 7 feet tall.
WALLACE: Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd consume the English with fireballs from his
eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I AM William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in
defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom?
Will you fight?
VETEREN SOLDIER: Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live.
WALLACE: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live -- at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now,
would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell
our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!!!
WALLACE AND SOLDIERS: Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)
1. List at least two ways William Wallace establishes credibility for his audience. Explain why you think each
example establishes his credibility.
2. In what ways does Wallace create pathos or an emotional appeal for his audience? Give at two examples
from the speech that create pathos, and explain how these examples create pathos for his audience.
3. Find one quote in which Wallace uses logical reasoning and write it below.
Remember the Titans
Context: Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports drama film based on the true story of African
American Coach Herman Boone. The film follows Coach Boone as he tries to introduce a racially divided team
at the T. C. Williams High School in the Northern Virginia city of Alexandria, Virginia in 1971. He gives this
speech to his team when they are working harder to fight against one another than playing football.
Speech:
“Anybody know what this place is? This is Gettysburg. This is where they fought the Battle of
Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fightin' the same fight that we're still fightin'
amongst ourselves today.
This green field right here was painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys, smoke and hot lead
pourin' right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men:
'I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family.'
You listen. And you take a lesson from the dead. If we don't come together, right now, on this
hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed -- just like they were. I don't care if you like each other or not. But
you will respect each other. And maybe -- I don't know -- maybe we'll learn to play this game like men.”
1. What topic is Coach Herman Boone addressing?
2. In what ways does Coach Boone possess credibility to discuss this topic? Explain.
3. In what ways does Coach Boone present a logical appeal? Remember that logical appeals are not just facts.
Where do you see him using logical reasoning? Write the quote below and then explain why you think this
quote creates a logical appeal?
4. In what ways does Coach Boone appeal his audience’s emotions? Give specific examples from the text.
Explain how those examples create pathos.
5. What argument is Coach Boone making to his audience? Is it effective? Why or why not?
Lean On Me
Context: Lean on Me is a 1989 dramatized biographical film loosely based on the story of Joe Louis Clark. He is
a real life inner city high school principal in Paterson, New Jersey, whose school is at risk of being taken over by
the New Jersey state government unless students improve their test scores. This is the first speech Mr. Clark
gives to his student body after he becomes principal.
Speech:
I want all of you to take a good look at these people on the risers behind me.
These people have been here up to five years and done absolutely nothing. These people are drug dealers and
drug users. They have taken up space; they have disrupted the school; they have harassed your teachers; and
they have intimated you. Well, times are about to change. You will not be bothered in Joe Clark's school.
Student: Yeah!!
Clark: These people are
incorrigible. And since
none of them could
graduate anyway, you are
all expurgated. You are
dismissed! You are out of
here forever! I wish you
well. Mr. Wright....
(The crowd silences after
students are removed)
Next time it may be you. If you do no better than they did, next
time it will be you. They said this school was dead, like the
cemetery it's built on. But we call our East Side teams "ghosts,"
don't we? And what are ghosts? Ghosts are spirits that rise from
the dead. I want you to be my ghosts. You are going to lead our
resurrection by defying the expectation that all of us are doomed
to failure.
My motto is simple: If you do not succeed in life, I don't want you to blame your parents. I don't want you to
blame the white man! I want you to blame yourselves! The responsibility is yours!!
In two weeks we have a practice exam and a minimum basic skills test on April 13th. That's a hundred and ten
school days from now. But it's not just about those test scores. If you do not have these basic skills, you will
find yourselves locked out! Locked out of that American Dream that you see advertised on TV -- that they tell
you is so easy to get.
You are here for one reason -- one reason only: To learn, to work for what you want. The alternative is to
waste your time and to fall into the trap of crime, drugs, and death. Does everyone understand that? Do all of
you understand me?!
Then welcome to the new East Side High!
Lean on Me
1. List examples of logical reasoning from this speech
2. List examples of emotional appeals from this
speech
3. Remember that ethos refers to the trustworthiness or credibility of the writer or speaker. Ethos is often
conveyed through tone and style of the message and through the way the writer or speaker refers to differing
views. It can also be affected by the writer's reputation as it exists independently from the message--his or her
expertise in the field, his or her previous record or integrity, and so forth. The impact of ethos is often called
the argument's 'ethical appeal' or the 'appeal from credibility. In what ways does Mr. Clark establish his
credibility in this speech? Give at least two examples from this speech and explain why this creates an ethical
appeal.
Armageddon
Context: Armageddon is a 1998 American science fiction disaster thriller film. The film follows a group of bluecollar deep-core drillers sent by NASA to stop a gigantic asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The speech
below is made by the president of the United States right before the “astronauts” are sent into to space to
stop the asteroid. This group of men is the last hope of survival for Earth.
Speech:
“I address you tonight not as the President of the United States, not as the leader of a country, but as a
citizen of humanity. We are faced with the very gravest of challenges. The Bible calls this day "Armageddon"the end of all things. And yet, for the first time in the history of the planet, a species has the technology to
prevent its own extinction. All of you praying with us need to know that everything that can be done to
prevent this disaster is being called into service.
The human thirst for excellence, knowledge, every step up the ladder of science, every adventurous
reach into space, all of our combined modern technologies and imaginations, even the wars that we've fought
have provided us the tools to wage this terrible battle. Through all the chaos that is our history, through all of
the wrongs and the discord, through all of the pain and suffering, through all of our times, there is one thing
that has nourished our souls, and elevated our species above its origins, and that is our courage.
The dreams of an entire planet are focused tonight on those fourteen brave souls traveling into the heavens.
And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through. God speed, and good luck to you.”
Now it is your turn to analyze a speech on your own. In order to receive full credit you must correctly identify
and explain appeals created in this speech. You may use the same appeal more than once, but you may not fill
the entire chart with the same appeal. This means you must use at least two of the three appeals to complete
the chart. Make sure your explanations are clear.
Appeal
Quote
Explanation of how appeal is created in
speech
Legally Blonde
Context: Legally Blonde is a 2001 American comedy film about a sorority girl, named Elle Woods, who struggles
to win back her ex-boyfriend by earning a law degree from Harvard. This speech takes place at the end of the
film, where Elle gives a speech to her gradating law school class.
Speech:
PROFESSOR STROMWELL: I am, personally, very honored to introduce this year’s class-elected speaker. After
getting off to a quite interesting start here at Harvard, she graduates today with an invitation to join one of
Boston’s most prestigious law firms. I am sure we are going to see great things from her. Ladies and
Gentlemen: Elle Woods.
ELLE WOODS: On our very first day at Harvard, a very wise Professor quoted Aristotle: “The law is reason free
from passion.” Well, no offense to Aristotle, but in my three years at Harvard I have come to find that passion
is a key ingredient to the study and practice of law - and of life. It is with passion, courage of conviction, and
strong sense of self that we take our next steps into the world, remembering that first impressions are not
always correct. You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in
yourself. Congratulations class of 2004 - we did it!
Now it is your turn to analyze a speech on your own. In order to receive full credit you must correctly identify
and explain appeals created in this speech. You may use the same appeal more than once, but you may not fill
the entire chart with the same appeal. This means you must use at least two of the three appeals to complete
the chart. Make sure your explanations are clear.
Appeal
Quote
Explanation of how appeal is created in
speech
Independence Day
Context: Independence Day is a 1996 American science fiction disaster film. The film focuses on a disparate group of
people who converge in the Nevada desert in the aftermath of a destructive alien attack and, along with the rest of
the human population, participate in a last-chance counterattack on July 4, the same date as the Independence
Day holiday in the United States. The president gives this speech right before the climactic battle for the earth occurs.
Speech:
Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching
the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind.
Mankind -- that word should have new meaning for all of us today.
We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore.
We will be united in our common interests.
Perhaps its fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny,
oppression, or persecution -- but from annihilation.
We're fighting for our right to live, to exist.
And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world
declared in one voice:
"We will not go quietly into the night!
We will not vanish without a fight!
We're going to live on!
We're going to survive!"
Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!
Now it is your turn to analyze a speech on your own. In order to receive full credit you must correctly identify
and explain appeals created in this speech. You may use the same appeal more than once, but you may not fill
the entire chart with the same appeal. This means you must use at least two of the three appeals to complete
the chart. Make sure your explanations are clear.
Appeal
Quote
Explanation of how appeal is created in
speech
Video Resources:
Braveheart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEOOZDbMrgE
Annotated Braveheart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKC5LsVO9k0
Remember the Titans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiqdA1B3_Nc
Lean On Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SbkHgx6YIo
Armageddon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zje91xTd6Lc
Legally Blonde: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyvDW1rinfs
Independence Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoLywiaM6PA