SPEECH ANALYSIS

AP LANGUAGE
Rhetorical Analysis (Historical Speech)

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/ that occurred after WWII or 1945 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.

The essay should be 600-800 words. The essay is due on Monday March 19th.