Rhetorical Analysis Of David Foster Wallace's Commencement Speech

Author’s Purpose I believe that the author’s main purpose was to inform people of not only what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt did to calm the public who were having a financial panic, but also how he did this so effectively. Roosevelt handled the situation of the collapsing economy very calmly and confidently. With the tone of his voice, his word choice, and how he implemented his speech, he put confidence and faith back into the people. The author describes his voice as soothing, like a “favorite uncle telling a bedtime story”(Brands 89).

This speech was given on September 2004. Zell Miller (G-GA) was chosen to give the keynote address to the Republican Convention, whose theme was “ Fulfilling America’s Premise by building a Safer World and a more hopeful America.” This was a rather unusual choice became, he was a Conservative Democrat. Miller had been consistently voting with the Republicans, especially on the subject of military strength. Zell Miller uses rhetorical devices in the speech about having a strong military.

Fredrick Douglas gave an extremely moving and impactful speech which includes many rhetorical devices and appeals.   Douglas uses rehetoical devices such as irony and rhetorical questions.   Douglas uses irony when saying, "America vis false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future", Douglas explains that America is false to its foundation of freedom, as slaves in America have to fight for their freedom.   Douglas shows the irony of America being built on freedom while slaves within America now have to fight for their freedom, effectively showing Americans that the premise that the country was built on is being denied to African Americans.   Douglas also uses rhetorical questions to effectively show

Inaugural Address John Fitzgerald Kennedy gave his Inaugural Address speech in Washington D.C. on January 20, 1961. In his Inaugural Address JFK explains how the people of America should focus on the future and to inspire them to serve their country and the world with different metaphors, personifications, allusions, and rhetorical devices used in his Inaugural Address. The speech is focused on introducing Kennedy, his thoughts of civil rights, and the new frontier – Space. “Those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside” is one of the metaphors that caught my attention in this speech.

Living in a modern world many people get well educated and are making good changes in the world. But are we forgetting something in our busy society? George Saunders talks about the importance of kindness in his commencement address. Saunders is an American writer and university professor who made the commencement address at Syracuse University in New York state in may 2013. This essay will focus on the style of Saunders’ language and on the values he advocates in his speech.

Intro Growing up, we have all heard the many stories of George Washington. While many recognize him as one of the most important figures in U.S history, others only recognize him by one of his multiple accomplishments; he was the 1st president of the United States. With presidency comes the variety of duties and responsibilities, the main being a president 's inaugural adress. In George Washington 's very 1st inaugural, he uses three rhetorical strategies: personification, amplification, and last but not least, repitition to convey what he truly wants for the States and why a successful Constitution should be in order.

Wendell Phillips, a prominent white American abolitionist, gave an empowering and reverent speech regarding his admiration for former slave and Haitian general, Toussaint-Louverture. Phillips uses the power of figurative language and rhetorical devices to reveal an unmistakable abolitionist passion for African American rights, and attempts to ignite this enthusiasm into the hearts and minds of the audience through his zealous attitude. Phillips employs hyperbole, understatement, and metaphor to persuade the audience that the support of African American soldiers will be an influencing aspect in an impending American victory. The speech is rife with parallel structure and reference to historical allusions. This technique allows him to praise Toussaint-Louverture while also influencing and inspiring onlookers.

John F. Kennedy uses literary devices to capture the attention of the audience, sets himself equal to his audience getting their attention and support, and uses the christian religion to strike the emotions and gain the support of his audience. Kennedy uses many literary devices to catch the attention of his audience. One of these devices is repetition. One example of repetition that Kennedy uses is, “Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

President Abraham Lincoln uses a variety of rhetorical strategies in his Second Inaugural Address to pose an argument to the American people regarding the division in the country between the northern states and the southern states. Lincoln gives this address during the American Civil War, when politics were highly debated and there was a lot of disagreement. Lincoln calls for the people of America to overcome their differences to reunite as one whole nation once more. Lincoln begins his Second Inaugural Address by discussing the American Civil War and its ramifications.

David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech “This is Water” at Kenyon College is often thought of as one of the most influential speeches because it calls the graduates to observe the world around them through a different lens. However, he does not accomplish that by calling the graduates to action, but instead challenges them to use their education. He also appeals to the students’ emotions through his use of ethos, logos, and pathos. Although people mostly only remember the antidotes, it is the message associated with reoccurring emotions and literary devices throughout the speech that moves the reader into action. Wallace is able to captivate his audience and persuade them to view the world without themselves at the center through his tactful use of rhetoric.

Wallace, David Foster "This is Water" Kenyon College Commencement Speech 2005 In the speech "This is Water" David Foster Wallace attempts to explain how the general populace is self-centered and what a person can do to change the "default setting" within our mind. Wallace's main point is to get his audience to understand and realize that they have a daily choice to make between being inconsiderate and acknowledging those around them. They can either remain conceited and unsympathetic towards others, or they can change and attempt to see and understand the situations of those around them as they go through their daily trials. Wallace uses various examples to explain and expand his argument.

In David Foster Wallace’s “ Kenyon Commencement Speech,” he discusses the importance of liberal arts education in “teaching you how to think” (Wallace, 199). He mentions how education is beyond the knowledge we learn, but about simple awareness will impact the choices we make for better or worse. The real value of education cannot be found in a career (you may or may not be fired from), but it can be found in the way you view things through a different perspective and by considering how other factors can contribute to everyday life. This new approach in thinking will allow us to appreciate our lives and overcome our inner “default setting” towards the world (Wallace, 199). I agree with Wallace’s argument because the purpose of higher education should not be about having career-specific skills and obtaining a degree, but about intellectual and personal growth will help us survive in the real world.

At just age 43, Theodore Roosevelt, better known as Teddy Roosevelt, became the president of the United States following a tragic incident in which William McKinley was assassinated, making him the youngest presidents. He brought a new spirit into the white house, one that believed that the president should work for his country to do whatever is necessary. As a president he expanded executive power, believed in a strong foreign policy as well as pushed many progressive reforms. On April 23, 1910, while in Paris, France, he delivered a speech to an audience filled with students of the prestigious school of Sorbonne University. Within his speech he touches on the idea of the advantages that these students have been given, however, in a polite

A higher education pushes individuals to think, question and explore new and valuable ideas. An excellent education teaches students how to credibly think and prioritise when learning. David Wallace, who gave the Kenyon commencement speech, quoted, “[Learning how to think] means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience”. In his speech, Wallace is endorsing the idea that a higher education doesn't just throw knowledge at students, but it teaches them how to selectively compose their thoughts and construct a meaning from knowledge. Wallace also makes the point that individuals need to learn to adjust their “natural default setting” to become less self-centered.

Barack Obama’s win for President in 2009 was a historical moment for the United States. His inaugural speech was much anticipated, because this was going to set the tone for his presidency. His speech told the American people that improving the economy is one of his priorities, but there were also other areas he would like to improve like healthcare and the education system. This was a speech that was meant to persuade the American public to take action for them to rise as a nation again, and for them to put their trust into him. His message addressed a couple of specific points like his gratefulness to the American people, the different crises America is facing, how America will overcome these crises, replying to his cynics, addressing the world, and then he reminded America again to be brave like they’ve always been to overcome the hard times (5 Speechwriting Lessons from Obama's Inaugural Speech, (n.d.).