The Trail of Tom Robinson--Rhetorical Devices, CDWs, and Appeals

A) Testimony analysis
1) Heck Tate:
a) Pathos: Tates pathos is the way he describes how badly Mayella was beaten.
b) Ethos: Tates ethos is that he is a sheriff so everybody respects him.
c) Logos: Tates logos is that Mayella herself told him what happened so everybody should
believe it.
2) Bob Ewell:
a) Pathos: Ewells pathos is that he gets the courtroom riled up.
b) Ethos: Ewells ethos is that he is the father.
c) Logos: Ewells logos is that he left handed so it is logical that he did it.
3) Mayella Ewell:
a) Pathos: Mayellas pathos are that she appeals to the jury emotionally and they pity her.
b) Ethos: Mayellas ethos is that she is a reliable source when talking about her home life.
c) Logos: Mayellas logos is that it is logical that she is very lonely so that is why she would
have invited Tom into the house.
4) Tom Robinson:
a) Pathos: Toms pathos is that he is a good guy.
b) Ethos: Toms ethos is that he is a reliable source, he has nothing to hide.
c) Logos: Toms logos is that he couldn't have beaten her because his left arm is crippled.

B) Tom Robinsons CDW:

Claim: He did not rape or hurt Mayella in any way.
Data: Tom is crippled on his left side.
Warrant: Because of the fact that he is crippled on his left side, then he couldnt have hurt
Mayella because it is established that she got hit by someone left handed.

C) Bob Ewell, Mayella Ewell, and Tom Robinson SPES:

Atticus is able to appeal to the jurys verdict in many ways such as in his tone and pathos.
Evidence to prove that is on page 271 when scout says .he was talking to the jury as if they
were folks on the post office corner and on page 275 when he himself says In the name of
God do your duty. In the name of God believe Tom Robinson. In his speech to the jury, Atticus

presents a tone of authority and confidence, yet speaks in a conversational manner. Atticus
appeals to the jurys Christian sense of justice. He appeals to the sin of putting an innocent man
to death. In conclusion we can see that Atticus is great at appealing to the jury, but will that be
enough?