Abby Silsby APLANG Period 2 Wells February 3, 2015 The State of Obama’s Rhetoric It is his second to last State of the Union speech, but his first with both houses of Congress in Republican control: On Tuesday night, January 20th, President Barack Obama itemized the achievements of his presidency and his devotion to raising the economic outlook for the middle class. In his address, he effectively outlined his legislative agenda for the up-and-coming year. He accomplishes this by employing a confident and optimistic tone, pronounced diction, and ample support; all in attempt to convince the public, Congress, as well as the 195 countries of the world of his proposals. Obama demonstrates in his 2015 Address, the ability to communicate with …show more content…
This rhetorical technique is powerful linguistic method that invokes inspiration and positivity. People tend to react against things they don’t want to hear. They shut down, stop listening, and start arguing. But, by starting and ending with affirmative messages, it circumvents the process. In between Rebekah’s bookends laid out all of Obama’s ambitions and national priorities for the year. It transitions into burdensome situation that American workers are facing like how to provide childcare for employed women and the working class’s demand for a rise in the minimum wage. It discussed Obama’s proposal for free community college so “student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams.” From there, the address shifted into the deliberation of updating cyber-security based on recent worrisome events. The centerpiece of the president 's address was the democratic tax proposal that increases the capital gains rate on couples making more than $500,000 annually to 28 percent. From there, the address segued, into the topic of humanity rights, and the increasing warmer temperatures in the environment. Finally, the address returned back to the underlying grand themes of America and its people. Obama managed to present these main points of his agenda without resembling a grocery list; the successful utilized pattern allowed for smooth transitions throughout. Obama was a surgeon performing heart surgery; he had to make careful and precise rhetorical decisions in
Obama uses this type of rhetoric to energize the American people. So, after watching/hearing the speech they come away imbued with a fresh sense of nationalism. The spirt of the nation in 2004 was bleak, people were/are terrified of terrorism, but 14 years ago the wound of 9-11 was still fresh and bleeding. The divide between republicans and democrats had hardened more than it had in the past. It was time for the people to unite and Obama saw that, and used demonstrative rhetoric in an attempt to get Americans to see they needed to be united in the
In his speech, “Remarks by the President in a National Address to America’s Schoolchildren,” Obama effectively argues his claim, that kids should go to school and try very hard to succeed to schoolchildren around the U.S. He effectively argues his claim because he uses supporting details and stories of students that have undergone tough situations, but still overcame those obstacles to succeed and school. Also, he is trying to tell kids that they should do well in school to get a good job and make a difference. He also uses rhetorical appeals to help with the supporting details. One of supporting evidence that he brought up was that if someone wants to become something such as a doctor, or lawyer you will need a good education to do
Within his speech, Barack Obama admits that the United States is in the "midst of a crisis" but he believes that it can change, but he also makes it clear that the change cannot happen overnight. Obama's inspirational tone stirs up the nation with phrases such as “dust ourselves off” and “bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions.” Barack Obama's message persuades his audience because the message is believable and delivered by an honest man. In his previous speeches, Obama spoke of race and prejudice, an economic crisis and his hopes and fears with such intelligence that when
On July 27th, 2004 Barack Obama gave a influential and significant speech that is remains to be talked about ten years later. This speech took place at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Obama, speaking on the side of most democrats, specified that the John Kerry/John Edwards duo would be the greatest selection to assist in leading America down a greater road. The speech ended in rounds of applause and was both praised and discussed all across America. He used pathos as a means of relating to the greater audience and touches their hearts.
President Barack Obama spoke his remarks at Howard University commencement ceremony for the class of 2016. This special moment in the speech is honoring people of color, especially African Americans and made history at this University, having the president to present his speech (Donnella). Obama explained how America was different when he graduated college and society is now accepting new cultures and backgrounds within today’s workforce and education. Obama wants the audience to take opportunities and learning new skills to expand their education.
Move over, parents and teachers. Someone with even more authority wants to tell kids to work harder in school: the president of the United States of America. In 2009, in the first year of his presidency, Barack Obama opened the school year with a speech to students, asking them to take charge of their own education. His speech, which he filled with many anecdotes meant to establish credibility and create inspiration, sent students an important message about their education. However, Obama could have made his speech stronger if he had avoided several missteps in the content and delivery of his message.
In specific, President Obama sought to assert his commitment in supporting economic recovery as well as growing the middle class in the United States. It follows the adverse economic conditions and thus, president Obama promised to offer liberation for the American families. Still, President Obama also used the speech to emphasize on his policies going forward including his foreign policy which
This inaugural speech marked the beginning of the second term of Barack Obama as president of the United States of America. It was delivered at United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2013. The event followed the presidential election in the United States and it was very important all over the world, about a million of people gathered outside the Capitol to witness the president's words and millions more from around the world watched him on television (Staff). For first time, a president talked about same sex marriage and gay rights, he also talked about divisive issues such as reform of immigration policies, stopping climate change and preserving a social welfare safety net. Obama showed a progressive and liberal agenda, focused on equal rights and possibilities for all the citizens. The theme of the speech was “Faith in America's Future,” (Caldwell) and he successfully used various rhetorical techniques and resources to influence the audience.
Using rhetorical jujitsu, he reframes Republican arguments into a context that ensures that his own policies appear very strong. His opponents in the audience were often at a loss, never confident in whether or not they should applaud. Paul Ryan, visible throughout, makes it very hard to discern what policies he supports and opposes by basically having no reaction at all. He shifts uncomfortably in his chair throughout the speech, and barely claps for anything. Obama’s emphasis on a shared American identity (55:00) is ultimately a criticism against both right and left—against the sort of right-winger who sees Obama himself as a strange foreigner and the sort left-winger who sees ethnic or gender identity as the most important aspect of an individual’s identity. Obama’s rhetoric at odds with both of
President Obama, like all Presidents before him, delivered a farewell address to the United States on January 20, 2017. As he stepped down as President he was eloquent and it was as clear as ever that he is a master of oration. Obama will go down in history as the first Black President as well as a strong orator who had the ability to captivate an audience through his use of ethos, pathos and logos amongst other rhetorical devices. His farewell address is a perfect example of Obama’s mastery of discourse as it is chock full of oratorical devices. Obama’s message to the American people and to the rest of the world is that it is essential that we maintain a sense of what it means to have a democracy and that in order to maintain peace and
Former President Barack Obama performed a speech in response to a mass shooting that happened in a community college in Oregon. This speech included other gun related incidents which occurred during his time in office in 2015 regarding Umpqua Community College and Roseburg. After giving his condolences and love to those who felt loss in their hearts, Obama gave a powerful argument regarding gun control and how we, as Americans, should fight and strive for better gun laws. While Obama gave a moving speech, I could not help but feel it fell short in its argument while conducting a thorough critique. Obama appealed to his audience utilizing pathos and ethos with ease but fell short for those in the audience looking for logos or specific facts within his performance. I will be taking this opportunity to delve further into an analysis of this speech and both its heights and pitfalls.
On March 18th, 2008 President Obama spoke out about his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Obama wanted to take that as an opportunity to address the issue of race. Throughout his campaign his slogan has been “Change” and the only way to successfully do so is to be unified. Obama used Aristotle’s appeal of ethos to get the audience to acknowledge the crucial issue of race. He was successful in showing qualities of good sense, good will, and good character when persuading his audience of this issue.
On top of that big fat slab of equality and togetherness, President Obama also begins to usher in a sense of endless possibilities and hope through the audience. He juxtaposes the “ending of war” to the beginning of economic recovery (Isn’t that a lie in the state we’re in?). This solidifies hope and the use parallelism, “ we are made for this moment, and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together". He begins again, this time using a parallelism that is used throughout the rest of the speech, “we, the people,” to even further establish togetherness and also builds Obama’s presidential
Despite bearing some minor similarities, the differences between President Barack Obama and President John F. Kennedy are pronounced. Barack Obama uses rhetoric devices more effectively than John F. Kennedy because he helps appeal to the audience more, using specific devices that Barack Obama didn’t. Barack Obama appeals to the audience through credibility (Ethos),he utilizes rhetorical questions to appeal to the audience through logic, and he uses his relatability towards his topic throughout his speech.
President Barack Obama begins his State of the Union speech by formally addressing the Speaker of the House, Vice President, and his fellow Americans. He challenges those who have low expectations for the year ahead to rethink all that has been accomplished in 2015 and what the future will hold for this country. He highlights the efforts made by the Speaker and fellow leaders to pass a budget and make tax cuts permanent for working families. He hopes that we can continue to work together on bipartisan priorities. President Obama sets up the rest of his speech by focusing on the future and only briefly listing off proposals for the coming year. Throughout the rest of his speech, three key points are made. These key points made by President Barack