Which student response best answers the text-dependent question: How does the author use rhetorical features to make his argument more effective? Cite explicit text evidence to support your answer.

A. Rhetorical features include things like simile, metaphor, personification, and sound devices. Such features are important when authors are persuasive to the reader.

B. The author uses rhetorical features that appeal to the shared beliefs of his audience in order to persuade them to separate from England. He states "one people" and "equality" to appeal to the needs of his audience to feel united, equal, respected, and valued. He capitalizes "Nature" to personify a cherished belief that the colonists had toward the earth and toward natural law that would dictate that it was the colonists' right to be free. The author's use of rhetorical features is powerful and persuasive for the audience.

C. The author tries to persuade the reader that the 13 colonies should separate from England.

D. The author believes that all people should be free so he wrote the Declaration of Independence to help others to see his opinion. He did a good job with his declaration

Answer: Incorrect. This answer names various rhetorical features accurately but does not answer the question that was asked. The question required that the student show HOW the author used rhetorical devices to be persuasive to the reader. Try again. Correct. This response answers the question that was asked by clearly identifying rhetorical features that make Jefferson's view about separating from England powerful and persuasive. The text citations are explicit and make it clear that the student understands the author's choices in building a compelling argument. Incorrect. While the student does correctly identify the author's purpose in writing the Declaration of Independence, he or she does not show how the author used rhetorical features to support his viewpoint. Try again. Incorrect. The question does not ask if Jefferson did a good job in writing the Declaration of Independence. Additionally, Jefferson is specifically focusing on how the colonies should separate from England and the student response is not anchored in the text or followed up with text support when he or she states that the author believes that "all people should be free." Try again.