S6

Alexa Burke

1. What is the purpose of the speech? Provide a brief statement of context.

After desegregation and the hiring of an African American coach, the Titans, a high school football team in Virginia, are unstable and incapable of winning games. The goal of this speech is to connect a sports program and to cut down racial barriers.

2. Who is the audience?

Coach Boone is speaking to a recently desegregated football team. The athletes to whom he is speaking are discriminatory and not cooperating together.

3. Which appeal (ethos, pathos, logos) is most prevalent? How do you know?

This speech uses an emotional appeal (pathos). He described a horrific time in America's history and connected those events to the struggles that the team was facing. He stated that the players should learn from the soldiers who fought in the Civil War. He said that they " killed [their] brother with malice in [their] heart" and that "hatred destroyed [their] family." The coach argued that the Titans are "fighting the same fight amongst [themselves]" and that if the team doesn't learn to "come together," they would "be destroyed just like they were."

4. Is the argument effective? Were any logical fallacies used?

As a result of this speech, players began working together- both blacks and whites. The team went on to win a state championship through teamwork and cooperation. Coach Boone's words were very effective and did not contain logical fallacies.

5. How could the argument have been strengthened?

The argument was valid, and I do not know ways to strengthen the speech. It was extremely emotional and was pressing on the hearts of both players and coaches. This scene changes the course of the movie "Remember the Titans."

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