AP Language Semester 1 Final Exam
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America is one of the most diverse countries on the planet with citizens from all over the globe. America has long been viewed as the “melting pot” of the world, a label carried in the hopes of all those who choose to immigrate here. But when so many people from so many locations concentrate in one place, questions are sure to arise regarding identity. Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina justice of the US Supreme Court, attempts to unpack the complicated definition of identity in her speech “A Latina Judge’s Voice.” She does this with a combination of pathos and logos.
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Sotomayor makes several claims using pathos in her speech.
In early paragraphs, she gives several specific memories from her childhood; memories she connects back to her cultural identity.
One example is line 27, which states: “Part of my Latina identity is the sound of merengue at all our family parties and the heart wrenching Spanish love songs we enjoy.”
This instance connects her pathos with her memories, and highlights the importance of her cultural identity.
Throughout the speech, and up until line 40, she uses her childhood tales to create pathos and appeal to her audience.
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Following her childhood memories, Sotomayor asks the audience; “Now, does any one of these things make me a Latina?”
She answers her own questions with “Obviously not because each of our Caribbean and Latin American communities has their own unique food and different traditions at the holidays.”
In this response, she creates an air of authority which creates logos and reason.
She goes on to give an academic definition of Latinos, which she quickly corrects citing that “It does not provide an adequate explanation of why individuals like us, many of who are born in this completely different American culture, still identify so strongly with these communities in which our parents were born and raised.”
This strongly written statement brings reminder to the air of authority Sotomayor carries with her and gives the audience a statement to digest.
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Following her proclamation of what a Latino identity is not, Sotomayor again retains her air of authority, and says “It is not political struggles that create a Latino or Latina identity.”
This simple statement brings to focus the idea of the speech.
Identity is not defined by one thing, and it comes from everywhere in our lives.
By utilizing tones of pathos and logos throughout the speech, Sotomayor establishes an emotional connection with her audience that is rooted in reason and fact.
This gives the speech an air of authority and reliability, proving to the reader what the true value of identity is, especially in America.
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You’ve got a solid foundation here, but to bump up your score, let’s zero in on a few vital areas. First, dive deeper into how Sonia Sotomayor uses pathos and logos. You’ve mentioned these appeals, but beefing up your analysis with more specific examples from the text could really make your argument pop. For instance, explore how her food imagery not only evokes emotion but highlights cultural diversity. Also, don’t just mention ethos—show how her credibility as a Latina judge enriches her message about identity.
Interested in exploring how to refine your thesis, integrate more textual evidence, or enhance your discussion on the rhetorical situation? Pick one or more, or suggest another aspect you’d like to dig into! Let’s take this essay to the next level!
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