1. What is the speaker’s purpose and viewpoint in “Acres of Diamonds”? How does the speaker use rhetoric to advance his purpose and clearly convey his viewpoint?
Answer:
The speaker’s purpose and viewpoint in Acres of Diamonds is to convey the idea that everyone in Philadelphia can get rich by finding diamonds, but first they have to convince themselves that they can really find diamonds. Russell H. Conwell tries to advance his purpose and clearly convey his viewpoint by saying that the people of Philadelphia has many prejudices that does not allow them to see the truth for progressing economically. In addition, he appeals to the younger people of Philadelphia saying that they have not grown up with customs that cannot let them grow believing that there can be a change in their economic lives.
2. What is the main argument of the passage? What claims does the author make to support the argument? How valid, relevant, and sufficient is the reasoning and evidence used to support the argument and claims? Does the author use false statements or fallacious reasoning to support the argument and claims?
Answer:
The main argument of the passage is that Philadelphia people can now be rich “within the reach of almost every man and woman”. The reasoning and evidence he uses to support the argument he claims is valid, relevant, and sufficient. First, he appeals to evidence mentioning that a young man found a diamond in North Carolina, appealing to the people common sense of believing that if a young man could find a diamond, anyone can do it. Furthermore, he appeals to an expert voice, a distinguished professor in mineralogy to ask him about where those diamonds came from. The professor assured Conwell that in Philadelphia there is one of the greatest diamond-mines in the world.
The author uses true and false statements to support his arguments and claims. He mentions that he has been told all his life that if a person has money, it is because he or she is dishonest. This truth has two sides, one that really shows the ugly truth of many people getting rich dishonestly, and the other saying that all rich people are honest. Conwell mistakenly says that the foundation of Philadelphia people is false, and that all rich people are honest, a false argument that excuses him for his eagerness to convince people of Philadelphia to get rich.
Explanation:
