ANNABELLE’S ANALYSIS OF OBAMA’S APPEALS TO PATHOS
Notice how the
writer sketches out
the big picture in
which her argument
will develop by
specifying and
connecting the main
elements of the
rhetorical situation:
the exigence,
Obama’s purpose,
and the rhetorical
audience. By
“framing” her
discussion of O’s
appeals to pathos
this way, we see
how they form part
of his larger
strategy.
Nice transition here!
The writer makes clear
exactly how the main
idea of this new
paragraph connects
logically to the main
odea of the preceding
paragraph by spelling
out the connection in
the first sentence: “In
order to reinforce his
argument, Obama
juxtaposes the journey
of our ancestors to that
of the younger
generation.”
Obama uses rhetoric in his Inaugural
Address in order to instigate people to actively seek
change instead of being apathetic towards
America’s problems, as well as to subtly criticize
those who attempt to thwart such efforts. His
various appeals to pathos manifest the exigency of
change and encourage his rhetorical audience to
take action against the “gathering clouds and raging
storms” of our nation. Note how the writer
uses quotations
The introduction of the discourse effectively. She
specifically targets the Echo Boomers, the younger identifies an
members of society. In several instances, he important instance of
direct identification,
mentions “our journey”, a direct identification with quotes the passage
this sector of the audience. He stresses that the in which it appears,
journey is not “one of shortcuts or settling for less”. and then explains
the meaning of that
The younger generations are those who will be passage. This is a
affected by the consequences of their action or fine illustration of
inaction, and for this, he establishes that inaction is how quotations
serve as the basis
not an option. By including himself in this for analysis, as well
“journey”, he demonstrates that he will be there to as of how they can
support the change that is needed to ensure that the be smoothly
integrated into your
younger generation need not “lower its sights”. own writing.
In order to reinforce his argument, he
juxtaposes the journey of our ancestors to that of the
younger generation. The “risk-takers, the doers, the
makers of things” in the past “struggled and
sacrificed… so that we might live a better life”, a
journey that, according to Obama, “we continue
today”. His appeal to our ancestors is an indirect This transition would
address to the Echo Boomers. “We” must be active be more effective if it
were more specific.
in improving society just like past generations. Beginning a
Another main sector of Obama’s rhetorical paragraph with
audience is the group that he deems the “cynics”. “Another [x]” only tells
us that you’re adding
He invokes a third party when addressing these a new point to the
people, a pathetic appeal that sets them apart from pile, not how it
those who those who are actually trying to do connects logically.
something in response to the exigence that Obama Even so, in this
has defined. He lightly criticizes the cynics who paragraph we see yet
“question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest another great
example of how to
that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans”. incorporate quotations
He calls them out in saying that “Their memories into your argument
are short”, that they “have forgotten what this effectively.
country has already done.” Not only does he tease
the cynics, but he alienates them, referring to the
group as the exclusive “them” rather than the
inclusive “we”. While he may not be able to
influence those who are cynical of his arguments,
he can compete with their side of the debate by
encouraging the dreamers, those who believe that
decline is evitable, to stand up against apathy and be
the change in the world.
Throughout the speech, Obama also targets
other sectors of his rhetorical audience, including
the governments of other nations, both friend and
foe, and those who are for the War on Terror using
similar appeals to pathos. In any case, he employs
this rhetorical strategy in order to manifest the
importance of change.