Blog 3 - Abigail Adams' Letter to John Quincy Adams
Angelann Stephens
Derrick Lyons
Abigail Adams writes to her son, Quincy Adams, while he is traveling with his father, John Adams. Adams successfully uses imagery to convey her message to her son that he should gain experience and knowledge and use his knowledge of language as an advantage to share and spread his ideas to better benefit his country. This is happening during the time period after the Declaration of Independence when America gets its freedom from Great Britain. He is the son of a soon to be President, so that makes him an important historical figure in America. Adams knows that her son would be valuable and possibly play a very important role in politics. Adams uses imagery to give her son a visual image of what she expects from him. She gives testimony from her experiences with an author who said that the more a river goes from its source, the greater it will expand. She writes, “[It] increases its stream the further it flows from the source.” Quincy sees an image of the river flowing and getting larger in comparison to her argument in which she argues that his travelling is an opportunity to gain more experience and grow as a leader of America. She emphasizes that the more experience and traveling he does, the more knowledge he will gain, and that will give him a greater advantage to spread his ideas. The imagery stays in her son’s mind, it motivates him to take her advice. Through imagery, Quincy gets the full effect and understanding of what his mother expects from him. Adams knows that her son will take her advice, she knows that her son’s father is a political figure, and that it would be greatly beneficial for him to make his mother and father proud.
Kiana Hillery
Abigail Adams, in her letter to her son, John Quincy Adams, advises him to see the world and allow the experience to inspire him to show his best qualities or talents. During this letter, Quincy is traveling abroad with his father John Adams. Dated 1780, just four years after the singing of the Declaration of Independence, her purpose is to guide Quincy in the right direction so he can be an exemplar in leadership and politics. His travels have the potential to shape his character and make him a great leader. Adams uses allusion as a rhetorical strategy to persuade her son. She writes, “Would Cicero have shone so distinguish an orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony?” She alludes to the great Roman orators of Cicero and Mark Anthony. After Caesar’s death, Anthony became a high political leader, but Cicero thought Anthony was arrogant and did not have the best interest of the people. Adams suggests that Cicero would not have been one of the best orators of that time without the passion that Anthony aroused in him. She wants her son to experience that same passion for his travels so he can become the great man she wants him to be. By listening to his mother, he will become the person or role model that the world desires, if he builds a good character, he can become a great leader and reflect nicely upon his parents, Abigail and John Adams.
Derrick Lyons
Aziza Abdul-Aziz
Aziza Abdul-Aziz
October 7th, 2014
Pd: 3A
Speaker: Abigail Adams
Occasion: Abigail Adams writes to her son John Quincy Adams who is traveling abroad with his father John Adams.
Type of text: Letter
Strong verb: advise
In this stupendous letter written by Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams (second president of the United States of America) writes to her son, John Quincy Adams. Her purpose is to advise her son to continue to pursue wisdom through experience and to strive during times of difficulties. Abigail effectively uses illustration/exemplification as a rhetorical strategy to uphold the main idea which is she wants her son to gain the best set of values and qualities. In the letter Abigail echoes an author that she has met with who “compares a judicious traveler to a river , that increases its stream the further it flows from its source…which running through rich veins of minerals can improve their qualities as they pass along.” She uses this illustration to highlight one of her main ideas in the letter which is to gain wisdom through experience; the correlation it shares to the letter is that a traveler gains more knowledge and becomes more open to their surroundings while “passing along”. Abigail recalls Cicero the roman politician she goes on to say “would he have shown so distinguished an orator (public speaker) if he had not roused , kindled, and inflamed the tyranny of Catiline, Verres , and Mark Anthony?.... habits of vigorous minds are formed in contending with difficulties.” This example underlines her main idea in the letter which is to strive during times of difficulties; the significance of using Cicero in the letter is to show that he too had to overcome difficulties (tyranny of Catiline, Verres , and Mark Anthony) in order to become victorious. In conclusion ,this is just a meaningful letter written by a mother (Abigail Adams) to her son John Quincy Adams in hopes he will take her advice, in the process of writing this letter she uses illustration/exemplification as a rhetorical strategy.
diamond lazenby
Speaker: Abigail Adams
Occasion: Abigail writes a letter to her son John Quincy Adams who is traveling to France with his father.
Type of text: Letter
Strong verb: Adhere
Abigail Adams wrote to her son, John Quincy Adams, in order to guide him and to encourage him as he enters an imperative milestone in his life. In her letter, she provides many instances of genuine advice. She does so with the use of rhetorical strategies to emphasize her point and persuade her boy to adhere to her plan for him. Her use of imagery was conveyed to justify the importance of knowledge. She divulged about how she met an ingenious author that "compares a judicious traveller to a river, which increases it's stream the further it flows from it's source ... improves their qualities as they pass along." She wants him to get a clear understanding of how the more experience you acquire the more knowledge you pick up on. She indicates that "under the instructive eye of a tender parent", he will be able to learn and to grow and get the experience he needs to be a promising leader of America. John was unwilling and unsure to go back to France to accompany his father. Nevertheless, he took his mother's advice and went on his excursion. She want him to take advantage of the opportunities he had in front of him; she knew it would benefit him in the end. Abigail didn't want him to regret the decision he made. She cares deeply and feels she know best for John in his further voyage. Although she doesn't want a reason to " lament " the decision, she is confident in his abilities. Quincy Adams eventually became the sixth president of the United States, following in his dad's footsteps who became the second president of the United States. Invariably mothers do know best !
Jayla Baptist
Abigail Adams, in her letter to her son, John Quincy Adams, adeptly maintains a balance, advising her son to accompany his father and brother on their voyage to France. Adams' purpose is to emphasize her tender love for her son. Throughout the letter, Adams' often appeals to the emotions of her son with pathos by acknowledging her affection for him. She reminds him that he has "a parent who has taken so large... in this contest", and that he is "favored with superior advantages under the instructive eye of a tender parent." By repeatedly emphasizing her support, Adams' is able to stimulate feelings of love and security in the readers and her intended audience- her son. Nevertheless, her jovial sentiments are reaffirmed at the end of Adams' letter when she confirms that whatever he does, he will "render [his] parents supremely happy, particularly [his] ever affectionate mother." The constant use of pathos creates an attitude of encouragement, giving her son the incentive to go far and do great things. Allusions to historical figures such as Verres and Mark Anthony point out the symbiotic relationship of hardship and leadership. Overall, the tone Adams' creates with her descriptive prose proves to be visual and literary enhancing, informing her son about his trials and tribulators.
diamond lazenby
Jabrie'l Thompson
In 1780, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her son, John Quincy Adams, future president of the United States. In said letter, she urges her son to accompany his father and brother to France. Abigail believes this journey will greatly benefit him in the long run. Abigail's use of compare and contrast amplifies her reasoning. Comparing a "judicious traveler to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows from its source", Abigail presses her son to take advantage of his father's position as a US diplomat. Abigail implies this journey would allow him to gain wisdom. She, not only, yearns for her son to garner the best values and knowledge, but to use those acquired skills to improve society. Abigail goes on to contrast a "dormant" man and a "hero". She strongly believes experiences, such as a trip to France, shapes a person. Without these experiences, qualities to become a "hero" will remain "dormant." All in all, Adams' advice is substantially delivered with her superb use of rhetoric.
Jabrie'l Thompson
Jabrie'l Thompson
Aziza Abdul-Aziz
Mercy Madu
On Friday, September 26, 2014 2:23:59 PM UTC-4, Angelann Stephens wrote:
Mercy Madu
On Friday, October 10, 2014 8:49:27 PM UTC-4, Aziza Abdul-Aziz wrote:
Dominique Rivers
Antania Wyatt
October 11, 2014
P: 3A
Wife of US diplomat John Adams, Abigail Adams, in her letter, enlightens her son, John Quincy Adams, decision to go on a second voyage. Adams' purpose is to persuade her son to continue on a profitable experience of the world at an advantageous point. She adopts a concerned tone in order to describe the importance of maximizing on qualities to become a better man and leader.
Adams begins her letter by sharing with John her primary concern was his safety. She appeals to his emotions by saying that she has hopes he doesn't endure obstacles from "enemies or the dangers of the deep sea" and by admitting her fear "to lament it ". By using the rhetorical strategy pathos she easily put John in the position of being receptive to her advice. This outpouring of emotion from Abigail conveys a concerned tone that reassures to call her son to action.
Abigail wrote this letter to shed light on her son's decision to travel with his father by telling him how much he will evolve as a man. She proceeds to tap into his feelings by making reference to his safety and having hope that by raising him well, she could ensure a bright future for her beloved homeland.
Dominique Rivers
Michael Green
Speaker: Abigail Adams
Occasion: Abigail Adams writes to her son John Quincy Adams who is traveling abroad with his father John Adams.
Type of text: Letter
Michael Green
marrer...@gmail.com
Occasion: Abigail writes to her son John Quincy Adams, who is traveling abroad with his father, John Adams
Type of text: Letter
Strong verbs: roused, kindled, inflamed
In this sincere letter Abigail writes to her son, John Quincy Adams, to confirm that he had no regret to go onto this second voyage to France from the cause of enemies or dangers of the sea and reminds him to take advantage of the knowledge and wisdom he will get from the voyage. In the beginning of the letter Abigail questions whether she was too demanding on John to accompany his father when he opposed it from the start. But Abigail then asks, "Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony?" Abigail adequately uses the rhetorical allusion to reflect back on her main reason for writing her son. She advises John that he will not be great if he isn't provoked and inspired by others to do so because people perform best under pressure. Abigail hopes he takes none of her advice as a joke. Also, that she is proud and has confidence in him.
marrer...@gmail.com
marrer...@gmail.com
Tymishia Adams
Speaker: Abigail Adams
Occasion: Abigail is writing a letter to her son who is traveling overseas with his father
Type of letter: Letter
Strong Verb: hope/believe
In this letter, Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, writes to her son Quincy Adams. In her letter, she uses illustration/exemplification. She passes hope and belief within her son by telling him of the author’s story she met with. The story the author tells compares a judicious traveler to a river. It describes how the stream increases the further away it is from the source. In my eyes, she is telling him the further he gets away in life the more he learns how to become a better man. She also describes how favorable it is to challenge the mind and body by comparing it to the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony. She implies to become a victorious person; he has to overcome many difficulties. In conclusion, her heart felt letter is only describing a mother’s hope and belief in her child to become a better person by letting him experience life his way.
marrer...@gmail.com
Dominique Rivers
Speaker: Abigail Adams
Occasion: Abigail Adams writes to her son who is sailing with his father
Type of text: Letter
Strong Verb: advice/encourage
Wife of U.S. diplomat and second president, John Adams, Abigail Adams, in her letter to her son, John Quincy Adams encourage him to take advantage of his journey. Adams’ purpose is to motivate her son so that he becomes successful just like his father, John Adams has and reassure his sense of security. She adopts a sincere tone in order to comfort John so he will be receptive to her advice. Adams achieves her purpose using many rhetorical strategies. One of which is ethos to establish trust with John by implying her maternal instinct and wisdom; in other words “mother knows best”. She states “If I had thought… you was capable of judging what was most for your own benefit, I should not have urged you to accompany your father and brother” suggesting that she thought she knew what was best for John. Then Adams goes on to say “You, however, readily submitted to my advice,” indicating that John willingly accepted her advice. Similarly, she uses her husband's, John Adams, credibility to assure her son that he is capable of the same accomplishments. Specifically, she says “you have a parent who has taken so large and active a share in this contest,” explaining that her son has his father who is prestigious, successful and has been honored by his country, whom he can learn from. This authority Adams has and her husband reputation heartens John. Adams cares for her son and believes she knows what’s best for him. She sends her love and sense that John will accept her advice and make her proud.
Dominique Rivers
Juanaisia Shabazz
Speaker: Abigail Adams
Occasion: Abigail Adams writes to her son John Quincy Adams, who is traveling with U.S Diplomat, John Adams.
Type of Text: Letter
Strong Verbs: Enlighten, Acquire, Improve
Abigail Adams, wife of U.S Diplomat John Adams, writes a letter to their son, John Quincy Adams, as he accompanies his father on their second voyage to France. As a mother, she wants nothing but the best for her child as he continues to evolve into a young adult. Mrs. Adams main purpose was to enlighten John Quincy of the advantages he will acquire while traveling amongst the many seas. For case and point, Abigail specifically states “Some author I have met with, compares a judicious traveler to a river, that increase its stream the further it flows from its source; or to certain springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals, improve their qualities as they pass along,” meaning that the farther he travels away from home, the more he’ll become rich in knowledge and personal experiences. She wants Quincy to realize that this trip is not for his health, it’s for him to step outside of the box and realize many things he was once blind to. She uses pathos to appeal to his emotions; she wants him to feel a certain type of way when reading the letter. She wrote “If I had thought your reluctance arose from proper deliberation, or that you were capable of judging what was for your own benefit, I should not have urged you to accompany your father and brother when you appeared so averse to the voyage.” By writing this she is telling him that she has confidence in him and if she didn’t she would have never asked him to go. As the letter goes on, Mrs. Adams uses several allusions and many other rhetorical devices to support her reasoning.
Juanaisia Shabazz
Dei Tafari
Dei Tafari
Occasion: Abigail Adams writes to her son John Quincy Adams who is traveling with his father John Adams.
Type of text: Letter
Strong verb: advise
In this magnificent letter written by Abigail Adams, wife of 2nd president , John Adams writes to her son, John Quincy Adams. The reason of this letter was to persuade and encourage John Quincy Adams to achieve as much knowledge as he can through experience and to never let difficult times get in the way. Abigail uses the rhetorical strategy illustration/exemplification to display the main idea as to which Abigail wants her son to pursue the best set of qualities and life values. In the letter Abigail recall's what a author she met “compares a judicious traveler to a river , that increases its stream the further it flows from its source. With this illustration she shows the importance of her main idea which is to gain wisdom through experience. Abigail brings up Cicero the roman politician which she goes on to say “would he have shown so distinguished an orator if he had not roused , kindled, and inflamed the tyranny of Catiline, Verres , and Mark Anthony?.... habits of vigorous minds are formed in contending with difficulties.” This shows another main idea which is to not allow difficulties to get in the way. Using Cicero she shows he had obstacles like every human being face and wit each obstacle you have to overcome it. This letter was a common "mother to son talk"but with much examples and details . (Illustration/exemplification)
Zachary Thomas
Occasion: Mother writes to her son
Type of Text: Letter
Strong Verbs: Lament, Judicious, Vigorous
In 1780, 4 years after America has gained independence from Great Britain, Abigail Adams writes a heartfelt letter of concern, encouragement and love to her son, Quincy Adams, who is traveling overseas with his father, John Adams. A rhetorical strategy that Adams uses is imagery, when she tells her son that his increase of knowledge will give him more insight and understanding. She compares her son's knowledge to a river, emphasizing the importance of how it can branch out and expand into something much greater. She illustrates " [A] judicious traveller to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows from its source; or to certain springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals, improve their qualities as they pass along." Using imagery in her letter shows Quincy that she wants him to be more knowledgable and a better leader than both his parents. Adams wants the best for her son, and she wants to imprint this message into his mindset by creating this inventive comparison. Adams then continues to solidify her statement by giving examples of world leaders who failed because of their lack of knowledge. She assesses the character of Ciecero: "Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony?" Adams is telling her son to depend on himself when making decisions, not anyone else or their opunions. Making important decisions based off of someone else's opinions can cause the demise of a situation. Adams wants her son to grow as a man, and in order to do that, he must be dependent only in certain situations. If he is going to be a leader in America someday, whatever decisions he can make for the nation can better or worsen it. Adams wants her son to have a sound heart and mind, and that is key to future success and more knowledge.
Zachary Thomas
diamond lazenby
Thierno Diallo
Strong verb: advise, lament
Thierno Diallo
I like your analysis but it lacked details and don't forgot to use quotation marks when you quote something from the text.
Hailey Sanders
Sydney Potter
Jourdin Morris
Cesaria Banks
Occasion: Letter to her son
Type of text: Letter
Strong verbs: Intellectual, loving,realistic
Wife to John Adams, a United States diplomat, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her son John Quincy concerning his overall well being and future life.
Adams' purpose was to cleverly but gingerly encourage her son to stay upon and seek out more than what accompanies him within his natural havings. In her essay, she used the Red Herring technique in order to sort of mask and support her own reasons for really,overly, contacting him. In the first two paragraphs, she is identified as a concerned mother saying," I hope you had no occasion..to repent your second voyage to France". This shows that she worries about him in general, as mothers do. Adams' carefully started shifting her letter upon the great open knoweledge that is available to him, stating that," Your knowledge of the language must give you greater advantages now..." Seeing that he is, as inferred, more wealthy in the language of French as of now verses a time when he was not, he can finally indulge into the pleasures of having this acquired skill and use it in a very meaningful way or to his advantage, such as of one of the elements his mother was stating in this letter. The focus of her point becomes clear inside and beyond her fourth paragraph of her letter. She comes full throttle into the statement of wisdom and experience, showing that his well being, not just now but also of his future well being, is in her best interests. This is also where she speaks about the freedom that,"..with the blessing of Heaven, will transmit this inheritance to ages yet unborn". She encourages him and tells him that basically through all of the bad, there arises the best of the good. Adams transitions onto specific topics to lead about in order to purposefully write a letter that could show that she obviously wants and suspects that he can poduce the desired accomplishments due to his growing knoweledge and his," ..superior advantages..", at his leisure. Adams reasonably used the Red Herring technique well and it mashed somewhat perfectly within her motherly nature that is shown in the text of the letter.
Jourdin Morris
On Saturday, October 11, 2014 7:31:15 PM UTC-4, diamond lazenby wrote:
By: Diamond Lazenby
Speaker: Abigail Adams
Occasion: Abigail writes a letter to her son John Quincy Adams who is traveling to France with his father.
Type of text: Letter
Strong verb: Adhere
Abigail Adams wrote to her son, John Quincy Adams, in order to guide him and to encourage him as he enters an imperative milestone in his life. In her letter, she provides many instances of genuine advice. She does so with the use of rhetorical strategies to emphasize her point and persuade her boy to adhere to her plan for him. Her use of imagery was conveyed to justify the importance of knowledge. She divulged about how she met an ingenious author that "compares a judicious traveller to a river, which increases it's stream the further it flows from it's source ... improves their qualities as they pass along." She wants him to get a clear understanding of how the more experience you acquire the more knowledge you pick up on. She indicates that "under the instructive eye of a tender parent", he will be able to learn and to grow and get the experience he needs to be a promising leader of America. John was unwilling and unsure to go back to France to accompany his father. Nevertheless, he took his mother's advice and went on his excursion. She want him to take advantage of the opportunities he had in front of him; she knew it would benefit him in the end. Abigail didn't want him to regret the decision he made. She cares deeply and feels she know best for John in his further voyage. Although she doesn't want a reason to " lament " the decision, she is confident in his abilities. Quincy Adams eventually became the sixth president of the United States, following in his dad's footsteps who became the second president of the United States. Invariably mothers do know best !
Oniecia Henry
Speaker: Abigail Adams
Occasion: Abigail Adams writes to her son, John Quincy Adams, who is voyaging to France with his father, John Adams
Type of Text: missive
Strong Verbs: accentuate, advise
Prolific writer, Abigail Adams, in her missive, accentuates the importance of her son, John Quincy Adams, embarking on a voyage to France alongside his father, John Adams. Her purpose is to advise Adams to take heed of the moral and intellectual development brought to fruition by virtue of travel and experience. She effortlessly uses the rhetorical appeal of cause and effect in an attempt to make her son receptive to her counsel. Adams shares with him a proverb told to her by a fellow author comparing, “a judicious traveler to a river…or to certain springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals, improve their qualities as they pass along.” Thus, she intends for Adams to draw a connection between himself and the rivers and springs. Abigail makes sure to emphasize that “wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure.” Only by taking advantage of travel opportunities and a life of experiences, Quincy can nurture his moral and intellectual growth can he become the “judicious traveler” his mother speaks of.
Sydney Potter
Sydney Potter
Cesaria Banks
Oniecia Henry
Hailey Sanders
Speaker: Abigail Adams
Occasion: Abigail Adams writes to her son who is sailing with his father
Type of text: Letter
Strong Verb: persaude inform assert
Abigail Adams’ letter (1780), addressed to her son, John Quincy Adams, persuades her son that his “second voyage to France” will prove to be to his benefit. Adams unceasingly and incessantly informs her son of these benefits in order to structure her son to a preeminent man. Adams establishes her claim with constant reminders of her affection and love or pathos: to commence with, she apologizes for making him go on the voyage in the first place (“I should not have urged you…when you appeared so averse to the voyage”) which softens his heart to her argument; then, she asserts what she expects he can be which may contributes to his pride; and finally, she constantly reminds him that she is his “affectionate mother” and he is her “son” that she “dearly” (how she commences the letter) loves him. Overall, her argument is successful and her impeccable mothering skills, such as this letter, lead to his successful presidency as the sixth president of the United States.