Background As a young lawyer, George Graham Vest (1830–
1904) represented a man seeking payment for his dog, which had
been shot by a sheep farmer. In this closing speech of the trial, Vest
ignores the evidence given at trial; instead, he gives a moving tribute
to dogs in general. Some said it was a perfect piece of oratory; others
exclaimed that the jury was moved to tears. Vest’s client won the case.
Eight years later, Vest was elected to the U.S. Senate. His speech is now
regarded as a classic tribute to “man’s best friend.”
TRIBUTE TO
THE DOG
Speech by George Graham Vest
(t) ©Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division; (c) ©FLPA/Alamy Images
SETTING A PURPOSE As you read, look for details and ideas
the author uses to convince the reader/listener of a dog’s value
to people.
G
10
entlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the
world may turn against him and become his enemy.
His son or daughter that he has reared1 with loving care may
prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us,
those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name
may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has,
he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs
it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment
of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on
their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the
first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud
upon our heads.
1
malice
(m√l´∆s) n. Malice is a
desire to harm others
or to see someone
suffer.
reared: raised; guided to grow into an adult.
Tribute to the Dog
93
20
30
The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in
this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that
never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man’s
dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health
and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the
wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he
may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has
no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come
in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the
sleep of his pauper2 master as if he were a prince. When all
other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, 3
and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as
the sun in its journey through the heavens.
If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world,
friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher
privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him
against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last
scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace
and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all
other friends pursue their way,4 there by the graveside will the
noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad,
but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.
COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION The author of this speech argues
that a dog is more faithful to its owner than the owner’s friends
and family. With a small group, identify text evidence and other
details that support this argument.
2
3
4
94
pauper (pô´p∂r): someone who is extremely poor.
take wings: disappear; vanish.
pursue their way: continue with their lives; move on.
Collection 2
treacherous
(tr≈ch´∂r-∂s) adj. A
treacherous person
is untrustworthy
and likely to betray
others.
prosperity
(pr≤-sp≈r´∆-t∏) n.
Prosperity means
having success,
particularly having
enough money.
embrace
(≈m-br∑s´) n. An
embrace is a hug
or encirclement,
showing acceptance.
6.RI.2.5, 6.RI.3.8
Trace and Evaluate an Argument
“Tribute to the Dog” is a persuasive speech, which is a talk or public address
that has a clear argument. An argument expresses a position and supports it
with reasons and evidence. To analyze how an argument is constructed, you
can trace, or follow the reasoning of, an argument as follows:
t Identify the claim, which is the speaker’s position on the issue
or problem.
t Look for support, which consists of reasons and evidence to prove
the claim. Reasons are statements made to explain an action or belief.
Evidence includes specific facts, statistics, and examples.
t Notice whether the author includes a counterargument, an argument
made to address opposing viewpoints.
To find these elements, identify and analyze particular sentences or
paragraphs that contribute to the development of the speaker’s argument.
After you trace an argument, you can evaluate, or judge, its effectiveness or
whether or not the evidence is logical and convincing. Ask yourself:
t Has the speaker included enough reasons and evidence to support the
claim?
t Do the ideas make sense? Do they flow in a logical way?
t Has the speaker thought about opposing ideas and provided
counterarguments?
6.RI.2.4
Analyze the Meanings of
Words and Phrases
“Tribute to the Dog” was written to persuade listeners to agree with the
speaker’s opinion. To convince an audience, a speaker can use a variety of
persuasive techniques, which are methods used to influence others. One
effective persuasive technique is the emotional appeal, which is a message
that uses language or images that create strong feelings in the listener.
Identifying emotional appeals helps the audience understand how a
speaker is trying to persuade them. In “Tribute to the Dog,” when the speaker
says that a dog “will kiss the hand that has no food,” he is making an emotional
appeal to the audience’s feelings about their pets. Look for more examples of
emotional appeals as you analyze “Tribute to the Dog.”
Tribute to the Dog
95
eBook
6.RI.1.1, 6.RI.1.2,
6.RI.2.4, 6.RI.2.5,
6.RI.3.8,
6.SL.1.1a,
6.SL.2.4
Analyzing the Text
Cite Text Evidence
Support your responses with evidence from the text.
1.
Identify What claim does Vest make in his speech?
2.
Infer Reread lines 1–12. Identify the counterargument Vest presents. Why
might he have chosen to begin the speech with a counterargument?
3.
Summarize Reread lines 13–25. Summarize the reasons and evidence
Vest uses to support his claim. Explain whether he successfully supports
his claim.
4.
Analyze Review lines 26–34. What is Vest’s final appeal to his audience?
What emotion does he appeal to? What words and phrases does Vest use
to represent this appeal?
5.
Evaluate Review Vest’s claim and how he supports it. Do his ideas
make sense to you? Do you find his argument persuasive? Why or
why not?
PERFORMANCE TASK
Speaking Activity: Discussion In
a small-group panel discussion, tell
why you agree or disagree with the
speech “Tribute to the Dog,” providing
your own claim with support for
your opinion.
t Prepare for the discussion by
reviewing the speech and listing
evidence from the text to support
your opinion.
96
Collection 2
t When it’s your turn to speak,
present your claims and support in
a logical way. Be sure to make eye
contact with members of the panel,
speak at an appropriate volume,
and pronounce words clearly.
t Appoint a group leader to begin the
discussion.
t Make sure each person on the panel
has a chance to speak.
6.L.3.4, 6.L.3.4c,
6.L.3.6
Critical Vocabulary
malice
treacherous
prosperity
embrace
Practice and Apply Answer each question.
1.
If someone shows malice, is he or she acting kind or cruel? Explain.
2.
If someone was treacherous, would you share a secret with that person?
Explain.
3.
If a country has prosperity, how do its citizens feel? Why?
4.
Which would you rather have in your embrace—a dog or a porcupine?
Explain.
Vocabulary Strategy:
Using a Print or Digital Dictionary
When you come across an unfamiliar word in a text, you can use strategies,
such as context clues, to help you determine the meaning. If those strategies
do not work, you should use a print or digital dictionary to find the correct
definition. Here is an example of a dictionary entry.
Syllabication
Entry Word
Pronunciation (audio
pronunciation often provided
in digital dictionaries)
Part of Speech
USFBDItFStPVT (trĕch´әr-әs) adj. 1. Guilty of
or characterized by betrayal of confidence or
trust; perfidious. 2. Characterized by unforeseen
or hidden hazards; dangerous or deceptive:
treacherous waters; treacherous footing. —
treach´er·ous·ly adv. — treach´er·ous·ness n.
Definitions
Other forms of the entry word
Practice and Apply Use a print or digital dictionary to explore words found
in “Tribute to the Dog.”
1.
Reread lines 9–12. Look up prone. How many meanings are shown? Which
meaning is used in the sentence?
2.
Reread lines 22–23. Look up desert. How many entries for desert are
shown? Which entry and meaning is used in the speech?
3.
Reread lines 23–25. Look up constant. What is the meaning of constant in
the sentence? What other form of constant do you find?
Tribute to the Dog
97
Language Conventions:
Relative Pronouns who and whom
The relative pronouns who and whom relate, or connect, adjective clauses to
the words they modify in sentences. Deciding when to use who or whom can
be confusing. Here are two simple rules:
t The relative pronoun who is used with subjects.
t The relative pronoun whom is used with objects.
Take a look at how who and whom are used in these sentences.
Those who are nearest and dearest to us may betray us.
People with whom we trust our happiness may become traitors.
The relative pronoun who is used in the first sentence because it relates
the adjective clause to the subject, those (people). In the second sentence,
the relative pronoun whom is used because it is the object of the
preposition with.
Practice and Apply Complete each sentence with the correct relative
pronoun who or whom.
My brother,
My uncle, for
The owner hired the woman
I have a friend
walks dogs for a living.
My sister, with
I share a room, is not an especially tidy person.
Tanya knows a doctor
Darius is the one
The person to
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Collection 2
lives in Florida, owns a potbellied pig.
I have the highest regard, needs my help.
he interviewed last week.
specializes in caring for injured birds.
will buy food for our pets.
I spoke was Dr Nash, the vet.
6.L.1.1a