"Yes, We Can" Speech Analysis

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

What rhetorical device has been used in the sentence?

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

"It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.We are, and always will be, the United States of America."

How does the narrator use rhetorical device to engage the audience in this paragraph?

Answer explanation

He is using direct address to draw closer to the audience. He also used 'we' to show that he is one o the audience.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

"...millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.This is your victory."

What figurative language has been used here?

• Allusion

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

"This is your victory."

What is the effect of direct address in this sentence?

Answer explanation

The speaker is referring to his audience as to his heroes. This way the audience feels special, they feel that the victory is about them as well.

"Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage or pay their doctors’ bills or save enough for their child’s college education. There’s new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair. The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there."

What persuasive technique has been used here? Explain your answer.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.SL.8.3

 "And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand."

What rhetorical device has been used here?

• Modality

• Direct address

• Anaphora

• Tricolon

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

 "And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand."

Explain the effect of the rhetorical device.

Answer explanation

To make an emphasis that the nation will wrk together. And, to create rhythm.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Why does Obama tell a story of one of his voters - 106 year old dark skinned Anna Nixon Cooper at the end of his speech?

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.W.8.9A

Do you find Obama's speech effective? Explain your answer.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.SL.8.3

CCSS.W.8.1B