Obama Speech Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Obamas speech was calculated and structured with many rhetorical strategies playing to his favor, so that his overall message was easily communicated, and both viewers and possible voters were able to understand and connect with his ideas. Two rhetorical strategies that seemed to aide his speech the most were the use of pathos and repetition. His reasoning for choosing these were probably due to the fact that this was his first speech as an official presidential candidate, and he wanted to be persuasive and precise on exactly what the forefront of his campaign was about and what he plans to do if elected.
Where pathos appeals to ones emotion, it allows for a connection on a more personal level, which ultimately would further a greater sense of purpose or reason to get involved in what could be done. Obama said, “Beneath all the differences of race …show more content…
“Power of millions of voices”, “Power in words”, “Power in conviction”, “Power in hope”, he says, clearly restating the word “power” over and over again, illustrating that power comes from these places and if people want change and to further America those are the ways in which they’ll be able to do it. In addition, there’s times the general public doesn’t fully comprehend or understand a politician’s message, something Obama most likely tried to avoid by using repetition. By using repetition, he left out lengthy sentences and technical terms, and just bluntly stated what he was trying to say. On the other hand, he probably used repetition so he didn’t lose the viewers attention. If a politician was to throw numerous ideas and plans at the viewers, they could either see them as a liar, whose merely proposing such plans for votes, or someone who has nothing important to say or do for America, if there just listing possible ideas with no meaningful thought or plan to truly resolve the