How Obama uses Rhetorical Devices to Further his Point
Many writers and speakers use rhetorical devices to make their argument stronger. President Obama, elected in 2008 and 2012, gave a speech to the American People in response to the Oregon Shooting. Transcribed by the New York Times, Obama uses a variety of rhetorical devices to further his point. At first Obama’s speech focuses on the tragedy in Oregon, but as his speech continues Obama turns his focus to gun laws. Obama uses diction and sentence structure in the formation of logos, pathos, and ethos to further his argument and make it stronger.
Throughout President Obama’s speech he references powerful American symbols to create ethos and pathos. Obama repeatedly mentions the Constitution and …show more content…
For example, Obama creates ethos with repetitive diction, he says, “we” and “collective” to emphasize togetherness. Ethos is important because if the people do not trust the speaker, Obama, then they will not think of him as a credible source. Additionally, Obama repeats “freedom,” “change,” and “responsibility,” all words that America is based on, to create pathos. These words are important to Americans because the words are used in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. By creating pathos, the American people associate with Obama, they see him as peer instead of a speaker. To prove his point about guns, obama speaks directly to the american people, “whether you are a democrat or a republican or an independant, when you decide to vote for somebody, [you] are making a determination as to whether this cause of continuing death for innocent people should be relevant factor in your decision.” Obama’s hopes with his creation of Pathos the people of the United States will stand behind him and change the gun control laws. In addition, pathos continues to be used, for example, “...tonight, as those of us who are lucky enough to hug our kids a little closer, be thinking about about the families who
Many writers and speakers use rhetorical devices to make their argument stronger. President Obama, elected in 2008 and 2012, gave a speech to the American People in response to the Oregon Shooting. Transcribed by the New York Times, Obama uses a variety of rhetorical devices to further his point. At first Obama’s speech focuses on the tragedy in Oregon, but as his speech continues Obama turns his focus to gun laws. Obama uses diction and sentence structure in the formation of logos, pathos, and ethos to further his argument and make it stronger.
Throughout President Obama’s speech he references powerful American symbols to create ethos and pathos. Obama repeatedly mentions the Constitution and …show more content…
For example, Obama creates ethos with repetitive diction, he says, “we” and “collective” to emphasize togetherness. Ethos is important because if the people do not trust the speaker, Obama, then they will not think of him as a credible source. Additionally, Obama repeats “freedom,” “change,” and “responsibility,” all words that America is based on, to create pathos. These words are important to Americans because the words are used in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. By creating pathos, the American people associate with Obama, they see him as peer instead of a speaker. To prove his point about guns, obama speaks directly to the american people, “whether you are a democrat or a republican or an independant, when you decide to vote for somebody, [you] are making a determination as to whether this cause of continuing death for innocent people should be relevant factor in your decision.” Obama’s hopes with his creation of Pathos the people of the United States will stand behind him and change the gun control laws. In addition, pathos continues to be used, for example, “...tonight, as those of us who are lucky enough to hug our kids a little closer, be thinking about about the families who