Rationale

For written task one we were focusing on the elements of rhetoric speech both in forms of writing and vocally as well. We mainly focused on the presidential speeches given by our current president, Barack Obama, and the candidate for the Republican Party, Mitt Romney. I chose to write a column to be published in the USA Today website. In this column, there will be intonation that is somewhat sarcastic and witty. This tone is used to show the both elements of speech and their use in a wider lens.

Column: Charisma and Awkward Pauses

Congratulations Mr. President on your second term in office. One can tell you have gotten there from that impelling voice and that use of dramatic pauses. Not to mention that the presence of tri-colon and repetition has been entwined after every other word. Youre a legend around these parts

Mr. President, a Martin Luther King Jr., an Abraham Lincoln if you will. Youre much more than rambling on about promises and sweet talking antics. Im sure you remember the 2008 delivery speech in Springfield, Illinois, since none of your speeches sound anything alike. Let me break this speech down for the general public if I

may. First and foremost, let me begin by saying in the face of all these political speeches you believe that your use of tri-colon, though at first unnoticeable, is repeatedly used throughout the text. Examples of this include, after the very first minute he began to state, In the face of you believe, in a pair of three. Another, though not stated together, It was here you also mentioned three time through three continuous pauses. You use the rule of three so often in your speeches and countless other speeches you became well-known for this aspect. So much so, that adding a repeated phrase becomes company, adding two transforms into a crowd. You also did not negate to add a few extra repeated phrases. This use of repetition usually refers to:

YOU WE THEY US OUR

These words certainly appeal to the audience; you are directly talking to us. Not only are you directly talking to us but you are making it clear that we are a part of your speech by mentioning your presence over and over and over again. You begin concentrating these pronouns around the second page. As the speech goes on, you progressively start to talk about us. You literally state let us at least twenty times throughout the text, especially focused towards the end of your speech. This part of your speech is also implemented with the phrase we can, a famous phrase credited to you, President Obama. All the use of connecting to the audience is focused towards the end. Why, one asks? I imagine you are trying to leave us with a certain feeling. A

feeling of participation and importance. We are obviously important to you. Well, at least if we are over the age of 17 and registered to vote.

Abraham Lincoln was a grand public speaker; Martin Luther King Jr. was a grand public speaker, and you are a grand public speaker, who occasionally stutters. What exactly has put you high up in the pedestal of these historical men? Is it that high level of charisma, that witty charm, or the fact that voting for you will create a greater change beyond your power. Yes, of course one must use this as an upper hand and you sure knew how to go about it. You made these allusions to past reference that appeal to your complication. Why? Well because these are the men who sought for greater change, for justice, for rights, for the true constitution, and you used this to your advantage of course. As you continue on your speech you mention Abraham Lincoln and you spoke of him as if you knew what he felt and what he went through. This inevitably gives you a certain power and seemingly deeper connection to a man long gone years before you crawled on these United States. This allusion can only be made by someone of you stature and characteristics. I mean no other nominee could have done it with so much power and so much dramatic force as you did. Since I have yet to clearly state it, what Im really trying to say is that if a man, with no African American roots, tried to pull off what you did, he may get a wave of skepticism. How dare he in fact compare himself to these men? He has no idea what they fought for and how people felt because they did so. No no no, he does not have that right or any right to relate himself the African American community. Criticism along those lines will be bound to float around the nation. Before you use the allusion of Abraham Lincoln, your voice dramatically changes to that of the king himself. You state the following we heard a Kings call to let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Your tone changes to immitate Martin Luther King Jr.s Southern preacher tone, and the effect was an emotional cheering crowd. This again can only be accomplished by you; any Caucasian man would be called an ignorant racist who has no respect for the African Americans in this society. Well thats just how we perceive things from purple mountain majesties.

We all truly value you, Mr. President, and truly appreciate the high standards you set for the art of political speech. We are not the gullible nation one thinks we are, because we chose you. We did not pay attention to candidates with more experience and established credibility. Why would we when we have something that can pay any bills and fix any mistake. Hope.

YES WE CAN!!!! CHANGE!!!! OBAMA!!!!

Word count 885

Work Cited Barack Obama pointing photograph http://4206e9.medialib.glogster.com/media/f05eb182fa7fa3d5e153490d633e0739c047d7bfa0e92f0eebb6e9644875991e/obama-laughing1.jpg date- 12/7

I Want You photograph- http://dynamomagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/obama_i_want_you_poster-p228218558531158056tdcp_400.jpg date- 12/7

USA TODAY BAR LINE Columnist Opinions

Comment Bar

Comment, Share, Print Bar

Advertisement