Read the excerpt from act i, scene i of romeo and juliet. capulet: what noise is this? give me my long sword, h! lady capulet: a crutch, a crutch! why call you for a sword? capulet: my sword, i say! old montague is come, and flourishes his blade in spite of me. what is the purpose of this dialogue?
to foreshadow the tragedy
to describe the setting
to provide comic relief
to build suspense

In the space below, write a five-paragraph, 600-800 word persuasive essay arguing whether or not your chosen speech is effective in communicating its message, based on how it uses rhetorical strategies. include a clear thesis statement identifying whether, in your view, the speaker's argument is effective, based on his or her use of rhetorical strategies. explain why or why not. give your audience a sense of closure by providing a clear conclusion. throughout the essay, be sure to: use formal, objective language for an academic audience, connect your ideas using transitions that clearly tie together your ideas, base your argument on evidence from the text of the speech, and provide a clear conclusion about the speech's effectiveness.