What evidence can a speaker use to support a central idea?
Read the excerpt from Alexander the Great’s speech at Opis.For years you had been frightened to death by the Thessalians, but he [Philip] gave you mastery over them; your access to Greece had been through a narrow and difficult corridor, but his crushing humiliation of the Phocians made it wide and easy; the Athenians and Thebans had always been watching for their chance to spring an attack on Macedonia, but Philip crushed them so low (and by now I myself was working with him in this campaign) that instead of our paying tribute-money to the Athenians and taking prescription from the Thebans there was now a reversal of roles, and they were looking to us to give them protection.
Read the excerpt from Alexander the Great’s speech at Opis.What I shall say to you now, Macedonians, is not an attempt to counteract your desire for home—as far as I am concerned you can go wherever you wish. But if you do go I want you to understand on what terms you are leaving—what I have done for you, and how you have treated me in response. I shall begin necessarily with my father Philip. When Philip took you in hand you were a collection of impoverished nomads, most of you dressed in skins and herding a few sheep and goats on the mountains: you were fighting a losing battle to keep them out of the hands of the Illyrians and Triballians and the Thracians on your borders.
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