1. Do you think Roosevelt’s appeal is effective here? Why or why not? in your own words 2. Do you think Roosevelt’s appeal is effective here? Why or why not?

3. What is Roosevelt’s central idea in this passage?

The Four Freedoms Franklin Delano Roosevelt The speech by President Roosevelt called “The Four Freedoms,” is a seminal document. Seminal documents are texts that affect history. Since Roosevelt knew that not everyone would agree with the central idea, or main claim, of his speech, he used persuasion to convince listeners. He used three types of persuasive appeals: appeals to logic, emotion, and authority. Appeals to logic ask listeners to follow the speaker’s line of reasoning and include verifiable evidence to sway the audience. Appeals to emotion draw on the listeners’ feelings and use words with powerful positive or negative connotations. Appeals to authority encourage listeners to trust the speaker’s words, based on the speaker’s reputation as an authority and an honorable person. They use examples that support the speaker’s status and character.

Every realist knows that the democratic way of life is at this moment being directly assailed in every part of the world—assailed either by arms, or by secret spreading of poisonous propaganda by those who seek to destroy unity and promote discord in nations that are still at peace.