Edward 1 Ellen Edward Professor Erin Mink Garvey WRD 103 - 415 12th October 2012

The first lady, Michelle Obama, delivered an insightfully personal and emotional speech at the Democratic National Convention. Her speech was so well delivered that it was buzzing through the Internet airwaves, all over Twitter and Facebook just minutes after she took on the stage. Throughout the speech Michelle moves us and stirs our emotions by giving us an insight about what its like to be the first lady, the wife of the President of the United States, and a mother. Michelle effectively uses the propaganda device plain folk to connect with the audience, and telling stories about her and Baracks past that make them seem like ordinary Americans with constant struggles, searching for the American dream. It was important that Michelle connected with the audience in this way to inspire Americans and let them know that even when it seems like nothing is working out in the present, it doesnt mean they should give up hope for a better future. Michelle Obama begins her speech by thanking America for treating her family with kindness and warmth over the past four years. She continues to let her audience in on a little secret, claiming that before her husband, Barack Obama, decided to run for president and consequently move their family into the White House, she had some concerns about what being the First Family would mean for their daughters, and how the spotlight would affect them. Taking us down memory lane, Michelle tells a story that before all the politics, their life was filled with simple joys, making her family seem like

Edward 2 the common family and uses the propaganda device, plain folk, by stating, Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at grandmas houseand a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldnt stay awake for both. Managing to connect with mothers throughout the audience, Michelle makes it known that prior to becoming the first lady, her most important role and job was being a mother Sharing a story about her adolescent years, Michelle Obama decides to tell us a story about love and that when she found Barack she knew she found someone whose values and upbringing were so much like mine. She continues to explain that they started with a car that was so rusted, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door making them relate to all newlyweds that set out on their own and go through all these newly found responsibilities, sacrifices and struggles. Michelle wants her intended audience to know that, she gets it, shes been through it, and she does this by not only using humor but by also using honesty to appeal to pathos. Getting to the roots of her upbringing, Michelle begins to open up by talking about personal memories about her disabled father. She tells a story of how he managed to still get up each morning and go to work and when he returned home after a long days work, my brother and I would stand at the top of the stairs to our little apartment, patiently waiting to greet himwatching as he reached down to lift one leg, and then the other, to slowly climb his way into our arms. Michelle gives the audience this little insight to let them know that just like her family, each and everyone of us have to deal with struggles that may inhibit us to reach our full potentials, but it shouldnt mean we should not try to better the lives of generations to come. Knowing that she wouldnt be living the life she is now if it werent for her parents, who took on their responsibilities and duties,

Edward 3 she continues to encourages families in the audience to not be discouraged, to not give up hope in searching for a job or to continue to fight for their rights, she wants the audience to hold on to that hope, to keep believing in her husband. Wanting to give further evidence that her husband is still the man for the job, the man America should hold out hope for, Michelle begins to talk about the values, morals and ethics Barack and her were brought up with and continue to believe in. She gives a personal insight on what decision making means for her husband, the President of the United States and claims, when it comes time to make that decision, as President, all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are. Michelle then wonderfully illustrates how one can simply appeal to the pathos and logos by claiming a common mans problem in Americas society today, men and women trying to provide for their families, and having an answer to it with a bill or an act passed by her husband during his first term as President when it comes to giving our kids the education they deserve, Barack knows that like me and like so many of you, he never couldve attended college without financial aid. Thats why Barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down, because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt. Michelle took the stage to remind the audience, the citizens of the United States, that over Barack Obamas first presidential term, America has been a blessing to represent and that it was the right decision to make and accept not just as a wife, but also as a mom. Michelle had targeted families all around the United States as her audience; her use of the propaganda device, plain folk, made the President seem like an everyday

Edward 4 normal citizen, her use of the rhetoric device, pathos, came into play as she was rehashing stories of her past. Overall all these things made for a speech that was delivered effectively.