Before Reading
Preview Organizational Features
Read about parallelism and antithesis in the Literary Tools section on page 345. Lincoln uses both of these rhetorical techniques to organize and give coherence to his speech. Keep these techniques in mind as you read the selection.
During Reading
Use Organizational Features as You Read
1. Listen to the speech as it is read once. As you listen, try to recognize parallelism and antithesis. Write down any examples that stand out to you as you listen.
2. Then read the speech carefully. Look for further examples of each technique and add them to your list.
Fix-Up Idea: Vary Reading Rate
If you are having trouble following Lincoln's speech, try slowing down your reading. A comma or dash generally indicates a pause for a reader. Take some extra time each time you come to a comma or dash to think about what you have just read. Then continue until you come to the next comma or dash. Continue this way until you have finished the speech.
After Reading
Discuss the Effect of Organizational Features
Compare your list with a partner. Then identify the main ideas that are emphasized by the use of parallelism and antithesis.