Question

Read Diego’s introduction to his rhetorical analysis essay.

A man looks out at a million intense faces. They have traveled from far and wide to hear his words. They have come with family and friends and now unite with strangers converging on the green. The swelling crowd is silent as he begins to speak. As his words ring out across the National Mall, hearts swell and tears begin to fall. It is a new era in history. Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream” speech sends a mighty message that is particularly effective due to its use of analogy, anaphora, and parallelism.

Which change would most improve his introduction?

adding an effective hook at the end to make sure the audience is engaged
adding historical information to provide more background
adding a clear thesis statement to underscore the ideas presented
adding rhetorical questions to emphasize the claim that King’s message is powerf

Answer 1

adding historical information to provide more background

Reason: Diego already ends with a clear thesis identifying the rhetorical devices. The introduction would be improved most by briefly situating the speech (e.g., the March on Washington, date, purpose/audience) so readers understand the context and significance before the essay analyzes the techniques.