Analyzing Author's Choice of Supporting Evidence in Persuasive Texts Practice | English Practice Problems

AP English Language & Composition Skills Practice

Use this material to answer questions #1 through #10

Read the following excerpt from President John F. Kennedy's speech at Rice University in 1962.

Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolutions, the first waves of modern invention, and the first wave of nuclear power, and this generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the coming age of space. We mean to be a part of it - we mean to lead it. For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond, and we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace. We have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding.

Yet the vows of this Nation can only be fulfilled if we in this Nation are first, and, therefore, we intend to be first. In short, our leadership in science and in industry, our hopes for peace and security, our obligations to ourselves as well as others, all require us to make this effort, to solve these mysteries, to solve them for the good of all men, and to become the world's leading space-faring nation.

We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of pre-eminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war. I do not say that we should or will go unprotected against the hostile misuse of space any more than we go unprotected against the hostile use of land or sea, but I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ around this globe of ours.

There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain. Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?

We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

It is for these reasons that I regard the decision last year to shift our efforts in space from low to high gear as among the most important decisions that will be made during my incumbency in the Office of the Presidency.

In the last 24 hours we have seen facilities now being created for the greatest and most complex exploration in man's history. We have felt the ground shake and the air shattered by the testing of a Saturn C-1 booster rocket, many times as powerful as the Atlas which launched John Glenn, generating power equivalent to 10,000 automobiles with their accelerators on the floor. We have seen the site where five F-1 rocket engines, each one as powerful as all eight engines of the Saturn combined, will be clustered together to make the advanced Saturn missile, assembled in a new building to be built at Cape Canaveral as tall as a 48-story structure, as wide as a city block, and as long as two lengths of this field.

Within these last 19 months at least 45 satellites have circled the earth. Some 40 of them were "made in the United States of America" and they were far more sophisticated and supplied far more knowledge to the people of the world than those of the Soviet Union.

The Mariner spacecraft now on its way to Venus is the most intricate instrument in the history of space science. The accuracy of that shot is comparable to firing a missile from Cape Canaveral and dropping it in this stadium between the 40-yard lines.

Transit satellites are helping our ships at sea to steer a safer course. Tiros satellites have given us unprecedented warnings of hurricanes and storms, and will do the same for forest fires and icebergs.

We have had our failures, but so have others, even if they do not admit them. And they may be less public.

To be sure, we are behind, and will be behind for some time in manned flight. But we do not intend to stay behind, and in this decade we shall make up and move ahead.

The growth of our science and education will be enriched by new knowledge of our universe and environment, by new techniques of learning and mapping and observation, by new tools and computers for industry, medicine, the home as well as the school. Technical institutions, such as Rice, will reap the harvest of these gains.

And finally, the space effort itself, while still in its infancy, has already created a great number of new companies, and tens of thousands of new jobs. Space and related industries are generating new demands in investment and skilled personnel, and this city and this State, and this region, will share greatly in this growth. What was once the furthest outpost on the old frontier of the West will be the furthest outpost on the new frontier of science and space. Houston, your City of Houston, with its Manned Spacecraft Center, will become the heart of a large scientific and engineering community. During the next 5 years the National Aeronautics and Space Administration expects to double the number of scientists and engineers in this area, to increase its outlays for salaries and expenses to $60 million a year; to invest some $200 million in plant and laboratory facilities; and to direct or contract for new space efforts over $1 billion from this Center in this City.

To be sure, all this costs us all a good deal of money. This year's space budget is three times what it was in January 1961, and it is greater than the space budget of the previous 8 years combined. That budget now stands at $5,400 million a year-a staggering sum, though somewhat less than we pay for cigarettes and cigars every year. Space expenditures will soon rise some more from 40 cents per person per week to more than 50 cents a week for every man, woman, and child in the United States, for we have given this program a high national priority even though I realize that this is in some measure an act of faith and vision, for we do not now know what benefits await us. But if I were to say, my fellow citizens, that we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth, reentering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun - almost as hot as it is here today - and do all this, and do it right, and do it first before this decade is out, then we must be bold.

And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.

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This speech is recognized as the words that launched the United States into the race to the moon. According to President Kennedy, what would be a benefit of going to the moon?

Answers:

He is unsure what benefits there will be to society when he says, "I realize that this is in some measure an act of faith and vision, for we do not now know what benefits await us."
He believes the moon race will make new jobs for Americans when he says, "And finally, the space effort itself, while still in its infancy, has already created a great number of new companies, and tens of thousands of new jobs."
He believes the increased use of satellites will make America more technologically competitive when he says, "Within these last 19 months at least 45 satellites have circled the earth. Some 40 of them were 'made in the United States of America' and they were far more sophisticated and supplied far more knowledge to the people of the world than those of the Soviet Union."
He believes that America will experience greater protection from enemies with new missiles when he says: "We have seen the site where five F-1 rocket engines, each one as powerful as all eight engines of the Saturn combined, will be clustered together to make the advanced Saturn missile, assembled in a new building to be built at Cape Canaveral as tall as a 48-story structure, as wide as a city block, and as long as two lengths of this field."

President Kennedy makes a claim early in this excerpt of the speech: "Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolutions, the first waves of modern invention, and the first wave of nuclear power, and this generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the coming age of space. We mean to be a part of it -- we mean to lead it. For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond, and we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace. We have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding."

What argument does Kennedy make for why America needed to lead space exploration?

Answers:

Kennedy argues that the Soviet Union should not beat America to the moon because they are "a hostile flag of conquest."
Kennedy argues that space should be a peaceful place and so only a peaceful nation like the United States should explore it when he says that "we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace."
Kennedy argues that since everyone is already looking at the moon, America can have more fame if they lead when he says, "For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond."
Kennedy argues that a peaceful nation should lead the world's efforts to make space exploration about learning, not conquest when he says, "We have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding."

Kennedy uses several types of evidence to support his claims that America needs to lead space exploration. Examine his first evidence to support his claim: "There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain. Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?"

What kind of evidence is this?

Answers:

This is a personal anecdote, a brief story about a question Kennedy was asked.
This is data from research on activities that seemed impossible to Americans in the past.
This is testimony, or direct evidence of previous goals Americans have reached which some believed impossible.
This is expert commentary, an explanation from someone who has done some of the things.

What evidence does Kennedy use to explain the following statement?

"We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

Answers:

He shares examples of other things that Americans have done for the exact same reasons: "And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain. Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?"
He names other things that Americans are doing to explore space: "In the last 24 hours we have seen facilities now being created for the greatest and most complex exploration in man's history."
He shares why going to the moon is so hard: "There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all."
He shares how Americans are quickly making advances over what they have done in the past: "We have felt the ground shake and the air shattered by the testing of a Saturn C-1 booster rocket, many times as powerful as the Atlas which launched John Glenn, generating power equivalent to 10,000 automobiles with their accelerators on the floor."

Kennedy claims that within the last year, he has led the shift from low to high gear in space exploration. Examine the evidence he uses to support this claim:

"In the last 24 hours we have seen facilities now being created for the greatest and most complex exploration in man's history. We have felt the ground shake and the air shattered by the testing of a Saturn C-1 booster rocket, many times as powerful as the Atlas which launched John Glenn, generating power equivalent to 10,000 automobiles with their accelerators on the floor. We have seen the site where five F-1 rocket engines, each one as powerful as all eight engines of the Saturn combined, will be clustered together to make the advanced Saturn missile, assembled in a new building to be built at Cape Canaveral as tall as a 48-story structure, as wide as a city block, and as long as two lengths of this field.

Within these last 19 months at least 45 satellites have circled the earth. Some 40 of them were 'made in the United States of America' and they were far more sophisticated and supplied far more knowledge to the people of the world than those of the Soviet Union.

Why does Kennedy use these examples as evidence?

Answers:

These are all examples of money and efforts that have been successful. They further his argument that America needs to lead space exploration.
These are all examples of the types of jobs that are now available to Americans. He wants to convince the listener to join in the work of exploration.
These are successful endeavors, and he wants his listeners to donate money to space exploration.
These are all examples of how space exploration can be used for good or for evil. He wants listeners to feel urgency.

Kennedy claims that though America lags behind other countries in space exploration, that they will catch up. He gives the following evidence:

"The growth of our science and education will be enriched by new knowledge of our universe and environment, by new techniques of learning and mapping and observation, by new tools and computers for industry, medicine, the home as well as the school. Technical institutions, such as Rice, will reap the harvest of these gains.

Whom does this evidence appeal to?

Answers:

His listeners are educators and college students from Texas, people who would benefit from an increase in spending on jobs and education in their state.
Describing the budgets of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will benefit all listeners who are considering donating to Kennedy's campaign.
Kennedy will need the support of city planners to make his goals a reality, so he appeals to them through explanations about city growth.
Kennedy appeals to families considering a move to the area by claiming that a new and large scientific and engineering community will grow there.

Kennedy lists how expensive space exploration will become for Americans and then compares it to the cost of cigarettes and cigars. Read this section:

"To be sure, all this costs us all a good deal of money. This year's space budget is three times what it was in January 1961, and it is greater than the space budget of the previous 8 years combined. That budget now stands at $5,400 million a year-a staggering sum, though somewhat less than we pay for cigarettes and cigars every year. Space expenditures will soon rise some more from 40 cents per person per week to more than 50 cents a week for every man, woman, and child in the United States, for we have given this program a high national priority even though I realize that this is in some measure an act of faith and vision, for we do not now know what benefits await us."

Why does he choose to compare these financial statistics on space exploration to the cost of cigars and cigarettes?

Answers:

Kennedy uses logos, an appeal to facts, to downplay the costs of space exploration and reducing them to a matter of priorities -- unhealthy indulgences or an exciting new frontier.
Kennedy uses pathos, an appeal to emotion, to get people excited about an exciting and inexpensive new adventure.
Kennedy uses kairos, an appeal to the moment, to show people how much better space exploration is for them than cigarettes and cigars, which they had just learned were bad for them.
Kennedy uses ethos, an appeal to authority, by stating facts clearly and simply about things Americans cared about; they were more likely to accept this evidence as valid.

Kennedy uses the following facts as evidence to prove his claim that Americans must be bold in their commitment to space exploration:

"But if I were to say, my fellow citizens, that we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys, some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial body, and then return it safely to earth, reentering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun -- almost as hot as it is here today -- and do all this, and do it right, and do it first before this decade is out, then we must be bold."

Why did he use this evidence to convince his listeners of his claim?

Answers:

The use of facts appeals to logical minds while making analogies comparing rockets to football fields and heating facts to temperatures in Houston appeals to more emotional minds
He wants to create excitement for these advancements, so he shares how big, fast, and hot they are to appeal to Americans' love of all things large.
He wants to share the realistic challenges that must be overcome to build trust with his audience, so he shares facts that help them to understand and to join him in solving them.
The use of facts may not appeal to all listeners, so he peppers these facts with humor and imagery to increase the boldness of his listeners.

Kennedy lists many examples of how space exploration has been successful so far and benefited Americans. But, then he says, "We have had our failures, but so have others, even if they do not admit them. And they may be less public." However, he does not list any of those failures. Why doesn't he do this?

Answers:

He is asking his listeners to accept that racing to the moon is a worthwhile endeavor and a list of failures in these efforts might undermine his central claim.
He does not want to accept that these failures were any worse than any other nations', so he does not want to list those failures for his audience to consider.
He is hesitant to list too much evidence that would lead his listeners to question his authority to make these decisions.
He does not want to anger his listeners, who are educators and engineers that may have been responsible for some of these failures.

10.

Look again at Kennedy's sentence from the previous question:

"We have had our failures, but so have others, even if they do not admit them. And they may be less public."

President Kennedy mentions that other nations have also had failures in their pursuit of space exploration. He posits that other nations do not admit their mistakes or make their failures public. This insinuates that American failures are made public to the world. Why doesn't Kennedy name these other nations or list their failures and make them public to the world as evidence to support these claims?

Answers:

Attacking the failures of other nations in the space race might divert attention from Kennedy's purpose, asking that Americans support space exploration.
This could expose a flaw in Kennedy's reasoning that space exploration will be a successful endeavor for America.
By naming the failures of other nations, Kennedy might introduce doubt in the American mind that he will be more successful than others.
Those facts might create a false dichotomy -- that the space race is all successes or all failures -- whereas the argument he makes is much more complex.