I am doing well in my class but having trouble with a particular assignment. I don't really understand bias, fallicies and rhetoric.

Here is my assignment, any help or enlightenment would be appreciated. I am not asking for my assignment to be done for me, I am just having problems with this.
The speech is :
Campaigner: There is only one man who can rid the politics of this State of the evil domination of Boss Jim Gettys. I am speaking of Charles Foster Kane, the fighting liberal, the friend of the working man, the next Governor of this State, who entered upon this campaign --
Kane: with one purpose only: to point out and make public the dishonesty, the downright villainy, of Boss Jim W. Gettys' political machine -- now in complete control of the government of this State! I made no campaign promises, because until a few weeks ago I had no hope of being elected.
Now, however, I have something more than a hope. And Jim Gettys -- Jim Gettys has something less than a chance. Every straw vote, every independent poll shows that I'll be elected. Now I can afford to make some promises!
The working man -- The working man and the slum child know they can expect my best efforts in their interests. The decent, ordinary citizens know that I'll do everything in my power to protect the underprivileged, the underpaid, and the the underfed!
Well, I'd make my promises now if I weren't too busy arranging to keep them.
Here's one promise I'll make, and boss Jim Gettys knows I'll keep it: My first official act as Governor of this State will be to appoint a Special District Attorney to arrange for the indictment, prosecution, and conviction of Boss Jim W. Gettys!


Answer the following questions in a minimum of 500 words: Identify examples of bias, fallacies, and specific rhetorical devices in the speech. How did the speaker address arguments and counterarguments? Were the speaker’s arguments effective? Explain your answers.

Everyone has biases! That is nothing more than the value system you have developed..... those things you believe important to living effectively.

As a result many people fall into the habit of using "fallcious" reasoning to support these values and making other's values unimportant and invalid. These first three sites are excellent on fallacies and the last one has a total list of rhetorical devices. When you have read these and put down what you think about how they apply to that article, please repost and we will be happy to give you further suggestions.

http://www.austhink.org/critical/pages/fallacies.html

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/fallacies.html

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/
http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm

To analyze the speech and identify examples of bias, fallacies, and specific rhetorical devices, it is important to understand what these terms mean.

Bias is the inclination or prejudice towards a particular perspective or opinion, resulting in the unfair representation of facts or ideas. It usually occurs when someone is influenced by their own beliefs or preferences and presents information in a one-sided manner.

Fallacies are errors in reasoning or flawed arguments that often lead to invalid or deceptive conclusions. Fallacies can be intentional or unintentional and are used to manipulate or persuade an audience by appealing to emotions, authority, or common beliefs without proper evidence or reasoning.

Rhetorical devices are techniques used in writing or speaking to convey a particular message effectively. These devices can include figures of speech, repetition, alliteration, metaphors, and other linguistic tools that enhance the clarity and persuasiveness of the speech.

Now, let's analyze the given speech in terms of bias, fallacies, and rhetorical devices.

1. Bias:

In this speech, there is a clear bias towards Charles Foster Kane as the ideal candidate who will fight against the evil domination of Boss Jim Gettys. The speaker presents Kane as the savior and portrays Gettys as a villain who needs to be prosecuted. This bias can be seen in statements like "the friend of the working man," "protect the underprivileged, underpaid, and underfed," and "Boss Jim Gettys knows I'll keep it."

2. Fallacies:

One fallacy used in this speech is the appeal to popularity. The speaker claims that every straw vote and independent poll shows that Kane will be elected, which is used to imply that he is the best choice for Governor. However, the speaker provides no concrete evidence to support this claim.

Another fallacy observed is the ad hominem attack on Boss Jim Gettys. The speaker attacks Gettys personally by referring to his "dishonesty" and "downright villainy," without presenting any evidence to support these claims. This fallacy aims to discredit Gettys rather than addressing the real issues.

3. Rhetorical devices:

The speech contains various rhetorical devices to enhance its persuasiveness. For example, repetition is used with phrases like "the working man," "the underprivileged, underpaid, and underfed," and "Jim Gettys has something less than a chance." This repetition helps emphasize specific points and tap into the emotions of the audience.

Another rhetorical device used is the appeal to the common man. The speaker positions himself as a friend of the working class and promises to fight for their interests, appealing to their emotions and creating a sense of connection.

4. Addressing arguments and counterarguments:

The speaker deflects potential counterarguments by making statements like "I made no campaign promises because until a few weeks ago I had no hope of being elected." This attempts to preemptively address any skepticism about promises by implying that Kane is not like other politicians who make empty pledges.

The speaker also addresses potential counterarguments indirectly by positioning Kane as the only candidate who can rid the politics of the State from Boss Jim Gettys' evil domination. By presenting Kane as a savior and focusing on the negative aspects of Gettys' machine, the speaker aims to prevent counterarguments and maintain a favorable perception of Kane.

5. Effectiveness of the speaker's arguments:

The effectiveness of the speaker's arguments depends on the audience's perspective and biases. For individuals who already have a negative opinion of Boss Jim Gettys, this speech might be highly effective in persuading them to support Charles Foster Kane. However, for those who are skeptical of empty promises and are looking for concrete evidence or plans, the speech may be less effective.

In conclusion, the speech exemplifies bias through its portrayal of Charles Foster Kane as the ultimate solution and fallacies through its appeals to popularity and personal attacks. The use of rhetorical devices enhances the overall persuasiveness of the speech. The effectiveness of the speaker's arguments depends on the audience's preexisting beliefs and criteria for evaluating political candidates.