Barack Obama Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Sydney Graham
10/13/14
Hess/7
Textual Analysis
Yes He Can!
In 2008, Barack Obama was elected into office and became the 44th President of the United States. Obama’s victory speech, “Election Night Remarks”, was heartfelt and genuine, soaking in determination to change the “immaturity and pettiness that poisoned our politics for so long” (680). He argues that America, as a people, can remake the nation. Obama strategically starts off the speech by appealing to ethos. He shares with us the grueling campaigning Senator McCain experienced and congratulates him and Governor Palin on all their achievements. This largely appeals to ethos because he is acknowledging the competitor in a respectable, honorable way. By honoring Senator McCain, …show more content…
He opens his appeal with a short paragraph addressing the American people. He promises that repairing our nation will be a long, steep road, and that we may not get there in one year, or even one term, but we will surely get there. This short little number appeals to logos because he is being realistic. He educates the nation on the struggles ahead without sugarcoating. The President asks that we stick together, even when we don’t agree with every decision or policy he makes, keeping in mind that he only has our best interest at heart. He alludes to the financial depression, saying “let us remember that if this financial crisis has taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers- in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people” (680). By alluding to past difficulties he is appealing to logos. Obama also uses allusion when he refers to Abraham Lincoln bringing the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity into the White House (681). Logos is used in allusion because he is bringing up the past; ways we can mold ourselves from it and ways we can make a difference. Reasoning is part of Barack Obamas plan for the United States to reach its full
10/13/14
Hess/7
Textual Analysis
Yes He Can!
In 2008, Barack Obama was elected into office and became the 44th President of the United States. Obama’s victory speech, “Election Night Remarks”, was heartfelt and genuine, soaking in determination to change the “immaturity and pettiness that poisoned our politics for so long” (680). He argues that America, as a people, can remake the nation. Obama strategically starts off the speech by appealing to ethos. He shares with us the grueling campaigning Senator McCain experienced and congratulates him and Governor Palin on all their achievements. This largely appeals to ethos because he is acknowledging the competitor in a respectable, honorable way. By honoring Senator McCain, …show more content…
He opens his appeal with a short paragraph addressing the American people. He promises that repairing our nation will be a long, steep road, and that we may not get there in one year, or even one term, but we will surely get there. This short little number appeals to logos because he is being realistic. He educates the nation on the struggles ahead without sugarcoating. The President asks that we stick together, even when we don’t agree with every decision or policy he makes, keeping in mind that he only has our best interest at heart. He alludes to the financial depression, saying “let us remember that if this financial crisis has taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers- in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people” (680). By alluding to past difficulties he is appealing to logos. Obama also uses allusion when he refers to Abraham Lincoln bringing the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity into the White House (681). Logos is used in allusion because he is bringing up the past; ways we can mold ourselves from it and ways we can make a difference. Reasoning is part of Barack Obamas plan for the United States to reach its full