ENGLISH KATHERINE BECKS

Name: _____________________________

Questions for Obama’s Speech

DIRECTIONS:

· For Questions 1 and 2, write your answer in full sentences.

· For Questions 3, 4, and 5, write his exact words with quote marks around them and cite the page number in a parenthesis right after the closed quote marks.

· Example: “We must do better than this” (3).

1. What is Obama’s speech about? (Briefly summarize in 1-2 sentences.)

2. What is his main argument (If he had a thesis statement, what do you think it would be)?

3. Give an example of his use of ETHOS.

4. Give an example of his use of PATHOS.

5. Give an example of his use of LOGOS.

6. Do you find his argument convincing/effective? Choose an option below AND state why:

a) Yes.

b) No.

c) Somewhat, but mostly not.

d) Somewhat not, but mostly yes.

7. Depending on which option you chose for #6, write down 3 rhetorical devices he uses effectively or poorly. If you chose c or d, then write down the ONE device he uses well/poorly, and TWO he uses poorly/well.

a)

b)

c)

8. Based on your answers from 6 and 7 (a, b, c, or d), formulate a thesis statement that follows the template below. You can substitute the word “convincing” for the word “effective”. Whatever is underlined is what you need to fill in yourself. If there’s an option with a / between words, choose the word that best fits what you want to say.

a) Obama is convincing because of his use of RHETORICAL DEVICE 1, RHETORICAL DEVICE 2, and RHETORICAL DEVICE 3.

b) Obama is not convincing because of his use/overuse/lack of RD1, RD2, and RD3.

c) Although Obama uses RD1 effectively, he’s mostly unconvincing because of his use/overuse/lack of RD2 and RD3.

d) Obama uses RD1 effectively; however, he is not very convincing because of his use/overuse/lack of RD2 and RD3.