Diction and Pathos in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

Discover how Thomas Paine’s use of diction and pathos in his seminal pamphlet, Common Sense, fueled colonists’ desire to declare independence from Great Britain. After viewing a video clip that describes how Common Sense was received in the British colonies, students analyze excerpts from Common Sense, interrogate Paine’s purpose and rhetorical strategies, specifically diction and pathos, and explore how these strategies rallied and inspired colonists. Students gain a deeper understanding of what Paine’s use of diction and pathos reveal about how writers use these strategies to influence their readers.

About the Author:
Autumn Doss is a veteran English teacher at the Don Tyson School of Innovation in Springdale, Arkansas, where she continues to build on 19 years of classroom experience with her passion for innovative curriculum and assessment. She holds a Master’s degree in English and is a certified Master Professional Educator. Beyond the classroom, Doss serves in an advisory capacity to the Young Entrepreneur Institute and the National Constitution Center, supporting civic and entrepreneurial education nationwide. When she isn’t teaching or traveling to new places, Doss enjoys the peaceful life with her husband and two cats in a restored farmhouse, with a coop full of chickens out back.