"Barack Obama..." EOC Practice

Which appeal does Obama use most in paragraphs 9 through 14?

• Appeal to order

• Appeal to emotion

• Appeal to ethics and rules

• Appeal to logic

Answer explanation

Obama appeals to the citizens directly by showing how citizens have sacrificed and by citing American accomplishments in order to appeal to his audience’s emotions and encourage them to work for the greater good.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Read this rhetorical statement from paragraph 7.

Voices that help us see ourselves not, first and foremost, as black or white, or Asian or Latino, not as gay or straight, immigrant or native born, not as Democrat or Republican, but as Americans first, bound by a common creed.

The author included these words to express —

• a concession

• a claim

• a conclusion

• a counterargument

Answer explanation

The statement is a counterargument because of its use of the phrase “not, first and foremost.” The counterargument is by inference, “We are, first and foremost, black or white, or Asian or Latino, . . .” and by using the phrase, Obama refutes the counterargument.

In paragraph 6, why does Obama stop using the plural we and shift to second person you in addressing the audience?

• He is speaking for himself and his personal opinion, not just as president.

• He is telling his audience directly that they have to do something.

• He is separating himself from the rest of the audience who need to act.

• He is placing blame on his audience for problems that were not his fault.

Answer explanation

He is speaking directly to the audience in a call to action.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

In paragraphs 9 through 14, Obama mentions different Americans in order to —

• avoid using their real names and identifying them, which would embarrass them

• point fingers at those keeping Americans from working together

• call attention to various individuals who have done incredible things

• cite examples of ordinary citizens who display good citizenship

Answer explanation

Obama refers to acts of citizenship in paragraph 8 and then cites examples of people being good citizens.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

The tone for the speech can best be described as —

• whimsical

• hopeful

• factual

• stern

Answer explanation

The speech is an exhortation, and the tone is optimistic and hopeful since Obama is laying out his argument for why he thinks the country is prospering.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which line from the speech reveals Obama’s purpose for making these remarks?

• And that’s why I stand here confident as I have ever been that the state of our union is strong.

• We’ve protected an open Internet, and taken bold new steps to get more students and low-income Americans online.

• America is Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers and George Washington Carver.

• And whether we like it or not, the pace of this change will only accelerate.

Answer explanation

The purpose of a state of the union address is to report on the present status of our country, and Obama has identified all the things right about the country and his assessments and expectations of what we still need to do.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3