Historical Speech(Rhetorical Analysis)

Politicians, philosophers, Kings, and world leaders frequently rely on rhetoric when speaking to the public. Select a speech from the list of the top 100 speeches on http://www.americanrhetoric.com/ or any speech relating to your study in American or European History and then analyze the rhetorical strategies employed by the speechwriter in the construction of the speech’s purpose.

The paper should not be a summary of the speech.

The paper should not be a review of the speech.

Identify the speechwriter’s purpose and analyze the rhetorical strategies used in order to develop the speech’s thesis.

Your paper should do all of the following:

1. Identify the main argument and / or purpose of the speech

2. Examine the ways in which the thesis and / or aim of the speech’s argument is supported through the through rhetorical strategies. Choose a selection of strategies and techniques to analyze; do not attempt to discuss everything about the speech

3. Interpret or explain why you think that the speechwriter made the particular rhetorical choices they did in an effort to forward their main argument or achieve their purpose. These choices are not random.

We will be in the lab Wednesday 2/10 and Thursday 2/11.

The essay should be 400-600 words. The essay is due on by Monday 2/22 by 3 PM.