Assertion #10

          The general assertion made by the author, Mather, is almost like a warning warning. The warning is an acknowledgment. Acknowledged because the author is aware of the witch's emergence. He is directly talking to the witches, they're his audience "Ye monsters of the bubbling deep". He is basically saying to the witches that their existence is now known and no longer a secret.
          This assertion is supported by the author's use of imagery, allusion, and ethos. Ethos is used when Mather presents his assertion in a manner like that of a witch's chant, suggesting that he knows what they sound like; which builds credibility for himself. An allusion was used when Mather referenced the witches' maker, the devil. Imagery was present throughout the text " Up from the sands ye coddlings peep".

Assertion #9

        The general assertion being made by Winthorp is to prevent failure by striving to always do the best. To prevent failure is to prevent shame. His speech is like that of a pep talk but with a hint of fear. "We shall...cause their prayers to be turned into curses." The audience are Puritans and they are traveling by boat from Europe to America and during the trip was when Winthorp delivers his speech. This was written at time around Shakespeare hence the complex and old fashioned diction.

        To support his assertion, the author uses rhetorical devices diction, simile, comparison and imagery. Diction plays a big part in giving the reader the setting of the time this speech was written; the diction is old fashioned and proper, not grammar-wise however. There is a simile present within the first line, "...we must Consider that we shall be as a City upon a Hill.". The comparison is made within that first line as well. Imagery is abundant throughout the text, "we shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil ways of god" Furthermore, the author's purpose behind this speech is that he and and the Puritans have been given a second chance, moving from Europe to America, we wants them to do best and give their all so that they may not fall back to their shame like in Europe.

Assertion #8

          The general assertion that Plato makes in his quote is that he is challenging the reader to question basically everything. In literalness, the author is generally questioning whether we are awake or sleeping but the whole quote extends beyond that. Metaphorically, Plato is challenging the reader, "How can you prove..." Plato made this quote have simple and not complex yet, there are hidden messages in his one-lined quote.
          The author supports his assertion with the rhetorical devices of diction, paradox and rhetorical questioning. The whole quote is a paradox, because the text initially comes off as absurd but still there is still truth to it. The diction in this quote is not difficult, making it readable for the reader. The whole quote also comes off as a rhetorical question for the author actually asks the reader the question "How can you prove whether at this moment, we are sleeping, and all our thoughts are a dream..." Furthermore, Plato is challenging the reader to question things, to consider if the impossible is in fact possible.