Compare and contrast the word choices of Jefferson and Paine. How does each author’s word choice contribute to the tone?

Answer:

Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine both use strong rhetoric to support American independence, but their word choices create very different tones. Jefferson employs formal, sophisticated, and legalistic diction in the Declaration of Independence, using terms like 'unalienable' and 'rectitude' to create an authoritative and logical tone. In contrast, Paine uses more accessible, emotional, and vivid language in 'The Crisis,' employing metaphors like 'the summer soldier' and 'the sunshine patriot.' Paine's word choice creates a passionate and urgent tone intended to inspire immediate action and moral courage in his audience.