Question

Read the excerpt from Shirley Chisholm’s presidential announcement speech.

Instead of calculating the political cost of this or that policy, and of weighing favors of this or that group, depending on whether that group voted for me in 1968, I would remind all Americans at this hour of the words of Abraham Lincoln, "A house divided . . . cannot stand.”

Which statement best explains how Chisholm uses ethos to gain support?

She cites past election data and statistics to prove her points.
She includes a quote from Abraham Lincoln as an appeal to authority.
She demonstrates her vast knowledge of political history to highlight her intelligence.
She uses language that evokes feelings of hope and optimism.

Answer 1

She includes a quote from Abraham Lincoln as an appeal to authority.

(Quoting Lincoln invokes his respected moral authority and aligns her stance with a widely admired historical figure, strengthening her credibility.)