"Government has a role in this. But teachers must inspire; principals must lead; parents must instill a thirst for learning, and students, you’ve got to do the work. And together, I promise you – we can out-educate and out-compete any country on Earth. Help me recruit 100,000 math and science teachers in the next ten years, and improve early childhood education. Help give two million workers the chance to learn skills at their community college that will lead directly to a job. Help us work with colleges and universities to cut in half the growth of tuition costs over the next ten years. We can meet that goal together. You can choose that future for America...."
Obama uses the words "we" and "together" to address the crowd. These words evoke a sense of kindness, friendship. While he gives himself responsibility he makes the viewers responsible as well, he makes them feel as a team, that they're working together. By being friendly, that emotion most people find endearing in a man who is trying to lead this country, he can make the viewers friendly toward him, make them want to listen and work with him. He calmly makes everyone involved when tackling an issue while still showing his leadership role.
He hits all tiers of education as he ask for help with child education, community college, and universities. He builds on top of each one with their respective challenges.
I felt a sense of community he builds with those concerned with education. You want your president to be this great leader but to not forget the people he is leading.
"But teachers must inspire; principals must lead; parents must instill a thirst for learning, and students, you’ve got to do the work. And together, I promise you – we can out-educate and out-compete any country on Earth"
He relates the qualities a president should have, inspire, lead, instill, with those he needs help from. He makes the people he is asking help from feel as valuable to education as he is. He makes a promise to the United States of greatness, that the people will be the ones to give the U.S. greatness.
He lays out his plan for everyone to hear then finishes it with,
You can choose that future for America....Making sure everyone knows it's not up to him, its up to you.
Great examples, I like the enthymemes you presented. I especially like the definition of the qualities a president should have. Using words like we can, as a nation become a better nation, and that education is the key to building a better society. The conclusion is that higher education of society makes for what a super power like the USA should stand for.
ReplyDeleteNice way to NOT say, "If you want your kids to succeed, vote for me. If you want them to be dumb and fail, vote for the other guy!"
ReplyDeleteI agree that what he is NOT saying...with college costs being over inflated for huge profits, higher education is once again being designed for the elite. Another way for the economic gap to be stretched further away from any normal persons reach.
I like this example...great job!!
Exactly. I feel that the underlining in all this is Obama also backing himself up, he's letting the people know his plan, but he's making sure to acknowledge it's their choice to follow through with the plan, so If anything happened to where his plan fails he can always say he only promised this goal in better education if the people he asked help from followed through.
DeleteI like how you picked apart the words used in Obama's speeches. Politicians all together tend to speak to the nation as if we are one, and this is what makes a country truly feel united. It is utilizing this emotion to draw people into a uniform idea which in one sense is good, but on the other hand bad. The US should be merged and cooperative, but it is the differing of opinions that make us who we are. It is a team effort, and that is the point of voting. That the "people" get to choose even though this rarely happens.
ReplyDeleteObama's definitely using words to make the people feel empowered. Rather than saying, I'll recruit 100,000 math and science teachers, he adds the words, "help me." I think he's trying to evoke the idea that the people will be involved - they will have a say- when he becomes president. You've definitely hit nail on the head with Pathos. He's inducing feelings of pride, responsibility, hope, and importance.
ReplyDeleteKevin I also agree with the fact that he's implying without saying that if you vote for Romney none of this will happen...
I also felt that by saying "I promise" is a big emotional appeal. When being promised something you listen and try to trust the person making the promise. You want to believe that the man wanting to lead this country for you and with you wont break a promise.
DeleteThough I also felt it was a open ended promise since he made sure to say it was up to everyone to make the choice for a better America. It's a great logical plan for his side; make a great plan and if it works you look great, if not it isn't all your fault because the people didn't help like you said they needed to.