Hello AP'ers. As I wrote in my email, for X-tra credit, please watch President Obama's speech this afternoon (4pm). Take notes on how he appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos. Identify at least two quotes per/appeal and explain how this quote shows this type of appeal. Be thorough in your analysis. Please post your responses in the comments section; include your name.
You can read more about the SOAPS of the speech here:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/the-different-audiences-for-obamas-speech/
Good Luck. I look forward to reading your responses. See you in class tomorrow.
Ms. Mack
Naftali Moed
ReplyDeleteLogos:
In his speech, President Obama’s consistent appeals to logos come to establish a firm ground for the basis of his argument. Appealing to logos in one of his key arguments, President Obama directly addressed congress and affirmed that “People work hard to meet their responsibilities, it is time we (the federal government) work to meet ours”. This simple notion, which recurred multiple times over the course of the presidents address appealed to logos on the grounds that, if individuals are capable of meeting those responsibilities which their lives require them to meet, the United States federal government is by no means in a position to default on the fulfillment of its responsibilities. This concept carries much weight, as it has recently been the basis for a large portion of criticism of the government’s handling of the current state of affairs in America. Obama’s effective appeal to logos thus helps to implicate a desire on his behalf to address the problems faced by the nation and request himself from further politicking and governmental inaction, which if unchecked will bring about untold consequences. Likewise, the slogan backing the actual plan president Obama posed to combat unemployment, “more people back work, more money to those who are already working” displayed his effective appeal to logos. It is in part the succinct and direct nature of the President’s argument, and its basis in expressed logic, which aid President Obama in effectively appealing to logos in this particular statement, and throughout the speech as a whole.
Pathos:
In an attempt to win over the hearts of many American’s disillusioned by the federal governments current in ability to effectively combat those problems which plague the nations, President Obama appealed to pathos. In particular, such appeals as that made by President Obama with regards to the notion that “anybody could make it in America” evoke the sentiments of the audience, and instill hope in the nations future success (thus appealing to pathos). In addition to this, President Obama’s remarks concerning the employment of veterans, and his comment that those who fight for our country should not be forced to fight for a job upon their return from service, establish a strong appeal to pathos, by evoking sympathy in the thoughts of the audience and condemning any contradictory notion as one which is inequitable.
Ethos:
In a divergence from his usual style, the words spoken by President Obama this evening appealed to ethos in a manner which differs from Obama’s notoriously eloquent, well though out remarks. Above all else, the speech’s mantra (which was something along the lines of “pass this jobs bill now” and was repeated in one form or another over 12 times in 32 minutes) marked a strong and unique appeal to ethos by the President. In contrast to the often academic, professional and smooth sounding remarks of the President, on this occasion, Obama appealed to ethos by refraining from giving any sort of “political grandstand” address, but rather by speaking simply and directly. It is this diction that in part linked the president to the audience, effectively emanating his humanity and providing little support to the notion that he is above his fellow citizens. In addition to this appeal to ethos, Obama’s inclusion of himself and the congress as one governing body (conveyed through such statements as “we can not let that happen”) openly established his acceptance of the fact that despite political rhetoric and gridlock, the United States congress and the executive are still an active governing body and thus responsible for governing the nation. It is this notion of a unified government, which president Obama impart employed to appeal to ethos by defining his role as a member of government, yet establishing a need for government as a whole to address the problems of the nation.
(The blog wasn't letting Naftali post his, so I'm posting it to see if it works. So, this is his response, not mine.)
ReplyDeleteNaftali Moed
AP English/Comp. Obama E.C.
Logos:
In his speech, President Obama’s consistent appeals to logos come to establish a firm ground for the basis of his argument. Appealing to logos in one of his key arguments, President Obama directly addressed congress and affirmed that “People work hard to meet their responsibilities, it is time we (the federal government) work to meet ours”. This simple notion, which recurred multiple times over the course of the presidents address appealed to logos on the grounds that, if individuals are capable of meeting those responsibilities which their lives require them to meet, the United States federal government is by no means in a position to default on the fulfillment of its responsibilities. This concept carries much weight, as it has recently been the basis for a large portion of criticism of the government’s handling of the current state of affairs in America. Obama’s effective appeal to logos thus helps to implicate a desire on his behalf to address the problems faced by the nation and request himself from further politicking and governmental inaction, which if unchecked will bring about untold consequences. Likewise, the slogan backing the actual plan president Obama posed to combat unemployment, “more people back work, more money to those who are already working” displayed his effective appeal to logos. It is in part the succinct and direct nature of the President’s argument, and its basis in expressed logic, which aid President Obama in effectively appealing to logos in this particular statement, and throughout the speech as a whole.
Pathos:
In an attempt to win over the hearts of many American’s disillusioned by the federal governments current in ability to effectively combat those problems which plague the nations, President Obama appealed to pathos. In particular, such appeals as that made by President Obama with regards to the notion that “anybody could make it in America” evoke the sentiments of the audience, and instill hope in the nations future success (thus appealing to pathos). In addition to this, President Obama’s remarks concerning the employment of veterans, and his comment that those who fight for our country should not be forced to fight for a job upon their return from service, establish a strong appeal to pathos, by evoking sympathy in the thoughts of the audience and condemning any contradictory notion as one which is inequitable.
Ethos:
In a divergence from his usual style, the words spoken by President Obama this evening appealed to ethos in a manner which differs from Obama’s notoriously eloquent, well though out remarks. Above all else, the speech’s mantra (which was something along the lines of “pass this jobs bill now” and was repeated in one form or another over 12 times in 32 minutes) marked a strong and unique appeal to ethos by the President. In contrast to the often academic, professional and smooth sounding remarks of the President, on this occasion, Obama appealed to ethos by refraining from giving any sort of “political grandstand” address, but rather by speaking simply and directly. It is this diction that in part linked the president to the audience, effectively emanating his humanity and providing little support to the notion that he is above his fellow citizens. In addition to this appeal to ethos, Obama’s inclusion of himself and the congress as one governing body (conveyed through such statements as “we can not let that happen”) openly established his acceptance of the fact that despite political rhetoric and gridlock, the United States congress and the executive are still an active governing body and thus responsible for governing the nation. It is this notion of a unified government, which president Obama impart employed to appeal to ethos by defining his role as a member of government, yet establishing a need for government as a whole to address the problems of the nation.
Is this due by tomorrow?
ReplyDeleteErin Perry (My response)
ReplyDelete9/8/11
Obama’s Job Speech 9/8/11
Ethos: When Obama mentions that Americans have “real life concerns” he creates an air of understanding about the common American. When he says this (especially since it is at the beginning of his speech) he establishes that this speech is not only directed towards those that have control of passing the plan but that it was designed to personally help the common American. By doing this he establishes a trust between his viewers and himself by displaying himself as caring for the well-being of all Americans instead of acting as though the speech was just a way to get Congress support. Another example of ethos that he uses is when he speaks about education and the children of America’s futures. Anything regarding family and children is a spark for ethos appeal. A child’s life (including education) has always been something considered morally important. Thusly, by using this argument for his plan Obama is able to gain moral support because most people consider children an important part of American life. This is also an important appeal to ethos because anyone who doesn’t publicly show support for something regarding a young person’s life at a live event like this will likely be hearing complaints and criticism about their moral values later.
Pathos: Obama appeals to pathos by describing the economic situation that many Americans are faced with currently. For example, when he says: “Americans have watched that compact erode. They have seen the deck to often stacked against them,” he is urging for sympathy towards the people whose trust for the government has reason to be lessening. This sympathy is supposed to influence his viewers to pass the plan that he is proposing. He also exercises pathos by focusing a point of his speech on war veterans who are currently struggling to find employment. He says that after fighting for our country “the last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they come home.” This point appeals to pathos because it exemplifies the struggle of job finding for a group of people we owe our lives and liberty to. This part of his speech should inspire sympathy and care for the veterans mentioned based on the idea that Americans feel patriotic and responsible when faced with situations like this.
Logos: The logic used during this speech relied heavily on the possible outcomes economically if this plan is passed. He talks about the tax credit that will be available to many after this plan is passed, and how they are greatly connected to a rise in employment. This logic helps Congress visualize why the plan would be beneficial in the long run. Another logos appeal he makes is that different parts of the plan were taking by both Republican and Democratic views and proposals. This concept helps appeal equally to both parties in Congress because it establishes a logical connection between each representative and certain parts of the plan.
Logos
ReplyDelete“President Kennedy once said, ‘Our problems are man-made — therefore they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants.’”
This quote directly appeals to logos because it appeals to reason. The reasoning that all problems created on Earth are man-made problems. Man is destroying the environment, polluting water systems, and being corrupt, causing everyone to suffer.
“This is inexcusable. Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us an economic superpower. And now we’re going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America?”
Obama appeals to logos here by using parallelism between China and the United states. How China is becoming more technologically advanced than the United States when we were once an economic Super Power. This is used to appeal to the reasoning of the people, and push for this bill.
Pathos
“But the millions of Americans who are watching right now: they don’t care about politics. They have real life concerns. Many have spent months looking for work. Others are doing their best just to scrape by – giving up nights out with the family to save on gas or make the mortgage; postponing retirement to send a kid to college.”
This quote made by Obama appeals to pathos because it shows the effect of the economy by the people. It highlights how people have to give up their pleasures when they shouldn’t have to.
“And there are schools throughout this country that desperately need renovating. How can we expect our kids to do their best in places that are literally falling apart? This is America. Every child deserves a great school — and we can give it to them, if we act now.”
This appeals to pathos because it is directly focused on education. In the quote Obama talks about how education is for the future of America, and by schools literally falling apart it is nearly impossible for our children to grow up and become successful. He shows the urgency of the situation in his last quote.
Ethos
“The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities. The question tonight is whether we’ll meet ours.”
This quote appeals to the morality of Obama because he is striving to do something that will benefit all of America. The citizens do so much, and they should only be repaid for their hard work and dedication to their country.
“This idea came from a bill written by a Texas Republican and a Massachusetts Democrat. The idea for a big boost in construction is supported by America’s largest business organization and America’s largest labor organization. It’s the kind of proposal that’s been supported in the past by Democrats and Republicans alike. You should pass it right away.”
This appeals to the morality of Obama by showing evidence that both sides, Republican and Democrat, in some way approve of this Job Act that he is trying to pass.
“If we act as one nation, and one people, we can meet this challenge.“
ReplyDeleteThis quote is an appeal to ethos as Pres. Obama is making the appeal to the audience as an American appealing to other Americans. He says ‘we’, which immediately makes people feel linked, and feel like they have a common bond. He makes the appeal to Americans as a single entity and group.
“Millions of returning heroes, including my grandfather, had the opportunity to go to school because of the GI Bill.“
Practically everyone in the country deeply respects soldiers and veterans, and appreciates what they do. Pres. Obama made an appeal to ethos, not only by referring to the veterans as heroes, but also by making a reference to the GI Bill, which provided college or vocational education to the returning veterans. Many veterans took advantage of that opportunity. Pres. Obama made reference to while informing the audience that his grandfather was a veteran, thereby making that shared connection.
“They believed in a country where everyone gets a fair shake and does their fair share - where if you stepped up, did your job, and were loyal to your company, that loyalty would be rewarded with a decent salary and good benefits; maybe a raise once in awhile.”
Pres. Obama was making an appeal to emotion with this quote. He said this to make Americans remember how America used to be, and make them hope for America to be like that once more. He wanted them to wish for that type of America to be here today.
“These are difficult years for our country. But we are Americans. We are tougher than the times that we live in, and we are bigger than our politics have been.”
In this quote, Pres. Obama appeals to pathos. He appeals to Americans to feel the pride that Americans have always had. He appeals to the determination that defined Americans years ago; that Americans could conquer the world.
“Should we keep tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Or should we put teachers back to work so our kids can graduate ready for college and good jobs? Right now, we can't afford to do both.”
His was an appeal to logos. He gives the audience two facts, and tells them that they are mutually exclusive to each other. He wants to audience to see for themselves by judging the evidence he provides. He is basically telling them that they have to understand that they have to choose between to proposals, and provides them with the facts so that they will understand his point-of-view.
“Pass this jobs bill, and all small business owners will also see their payroll taxes cut in half next year. If you have 50 employees making an average salary, that's an $80,000 tax cut. And all businesses will be able to continue writing off the investments they make in 2012.“
Here Pres. Obama appeals to logos by presenting a few numbers as facts. He shows them what could happen if his ‘Jobs Act’ is passed, and urges them to vote for it. He gives the numbers out for the people to get an idea or taste of a possible future. When politicians give specific details, people tend to have more faith in them, and he wanted them to see that he was capable and had a plan.
Reena Alog -
ReplyDeleteIn Obama’s speech, he makes appeals to pathos, ethos, and logos. An example of him using pathos would be when he says, “Families are doing just enough to scrape by”. By saying this, he is making an appeal by bringing into his arguments something that everyone, or most people, can relate to. Family is one of the most important things in society today because with the recent loss of jobs and such. By talking about how families are becoming closer and trying to do things to help each other out, people can relate to it and would be affected by feeling sympathetic. Another example would be when he says, “Every child deserves a good school and we can give it to them now”. He brings up a good point in arguing that children deserve better schools. Because this is a real issue and he is referring to the future of America, he is creating a hopeful feeling that should make people feel moved enough to agree with his plans.
Obama also uses appeals to ethos. For example, he correctly states, “we are in a time of economic crisis and political crisis”. He is the president; he knows what’s happening in the government, so he is making a point in saying this to make people believe in him. As another example, he says that “this proposal is supported by both democrats and republicans”. By saying this, he is appealing to ethos because he is showing his morals and his effort in trying to appeal to the two opposing parties. Since he is proposing a plan to keep them both in a satisfied state of mind, he is also showing his goodwill towards the audience.
His appeal to Logos is also apparent in his speech. He uses logos by being realistic and posing the question of “how will the plan affect America?” His realistic thinking is an appeal to logos because it’s all logical. He will make sure that people will get the answer to this question and other things that he’s looking forward to in the future. Another example is when he says, “our recovery will be driven by our businesses”. In a way, he’s stating this obvious fact because business is pretty much our whole economy. By increasing business and increasing the number of jobs, decreasing the number of jobless people, he is saying that the economic state of America will also improve.
Ethos:
ReplyDelete“But the millions of Americans who are watching right now: they don’t care about politics. They have real life concerns. Many have spent months looking for work. Others are doing their best just to scrape by – giving up nights out with the family to save on gas or make the mortgage; postponing retirement to send a kid to college.”
“The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities. The question tonight is whether we’ll meet ours. The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy; whether we can restore some of the fairness and security that has defined this nation since our beginning.”
These two quotes are examples of ethos because Obama says want people want to hear, about how hard their lives are and that they need help. He appeals to congress by ethos and argues that Americans are noble people working hard to their earnings, which barely help them enough these days. And so he says to them, get your act together and do the right thing and get this bill passed so that you can help your fellow American Citizens.
Pathos:
“Right now, Warren Buffet pays a lower tax rate than his secretary – an outrage he has asked us to fix. We need a tax code where everyone gets a fair shake, and everybody pays their fair share. And I believe the vast majority of wealthy Americans and CEOs are willing to do just that, if it helps the economy grow and gets our fiscal house in order.”
“These are difficult years for our country. But we are Americans. We are tougher than the times that we live in, and we are bigger than our politics have been. So let’s meet the moment. Let’s get to work, and show the world once again why the United States of America remains the greatest nation on Earth. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.”
These two passages are examples of an appeal to ethos because the first relies on humor to ease the audience and drive home an important point with a name that everyone in the room knew, and the second quote was an appeal to emotion, an appeal the people’s pride to be an American. By verbally uniting everyone in the room as Americans, Obama made them all feel united and prideful of being an American, and encouraged them to do the right thing as representatives for their people.
Logos:
“Now, I realize that some of you have a different theory on how to grow the economy. Some of you sincerely believe that the only solution to our economic challenges is to simply cut most government spending and eliminate most government regulations.”
“The agreement we passed in July will cut government spending by about $1 trillion over the next ten years. It also charges this Congress to come up with an additional $1.5 trillion in savings by Christmas. Tonight, I’m asking you to increase that amount so that it covers the full cost of the American Jobs Act. And a week from Monday, I’ll be releasing a more ambitious deficit plan — a plan that will not only cover the cost of this jobs bill, but stabilize our debt in the long run.”
These two quotes are an appeal to Logos because the first quote appeals to some of the audience’s logic in their opinions and ideals for how to fix the economy. He acknowledges their opinion and agrees with their main logic on how to fix some parts of the government, but then adds his own piece over top, but he definitely makes a logical argument, although one can argue that nothing in politics these days are really logical anymore. The second quote is straight facts that show the major issue and a simple logical, straightforward solution on how to solve it. Of course many people may not agree to exactly what Obama plans to do, but everyone can agree that it is a logical plan, albeit not the right plan to some.
Donna Chow
ReplyDeletept. 1 Extra Credit
Ethos:
“…where would we be right now if the people who sat here before us decided not to build our highways and our bridges; our dams and our airports? What would this country be like if we had chosen not to spend money on public high schools, or research universities, or community colleges? Millions of returning heroes, including my grandfather, had the opportunity to go to school because of the GI Bill. Where would we be if they hadn't had that chance?”
In this quote, Obama appeals to ethos because he gives an example to how he is able to relate to the American people. He is able to relate to the people by stating that his own grandfather had an opportunity to go to school because of the GI Bill. By stating this, Obama is able to build trust in the American people because they will feel as if Obama and his family has went through things that Americans need nowadays. The people will feel that Obama knows the necessity of the GI Bill and any other type of reform that is needed for the American public, which is ignored. Obama also appeals to ethos because he doesn’t put himself into an individual section when talking about America. He may be the president but he relates himself to the American people by using the words “we” and “us” because he wants the audience to know that he is one of them.
“I don't pretend that this plan will solve all our problems. It shouldn't be, nor will it be, the last plan of action we propose.”
Obama appeals to ethos in this quote because he states that the plan won’t be perfect. By saying that it won’t be perfect, Americans know not to get their hopes too high up and understand that Obama is trying to do the best he can for the American public. This builds character to Obama for the American public because he is able to accept that it won’t be a complete solution but it’s a start. If Obama had said that he believes the bill will be the solution for everything, he wouldn’t get as much trust from the people because people know that one bill isn’t going to save the whole economy.
Donna Chow
ReplyDeletePt. 2 Extra Credit
Pathos:
“These men and women grew up with faith in an America where hard work and responsibility paid off. They believed in a country where everyone gets a fair shake and does their fair share - where if you stepped up, did your job, and were loyal to your company, that loyalty would be rewarded with a decent salary and good benefits; maybe a raise once in awhile. If you did the right thing, you could make it in America.”
Obama appeals to pathos in this quote by describing the American dream. He describes the blue-collared men and women in America, which America mostly consists of. Most of the audience of this speech is blue-collared workers that can relate to what Obama is saying and feel lost because they know that the American system isn’t fair. The emotion that is appealed here is hope for the people and for a fair system. By Obama acknowledging their hopes, they begin to feel hopeful because most politicians think more of their class than the working class people.
“These are the men and women charged with preparing our children for a world where the competition has never been tougher. But while they're adding teachers in places like South Korea, we're laying them off in droves. It's unfair to our kids. It undermines their future and ours. And it has to stop.”
This appeals to pathos because Obama is describing the future of America. Obama is addressing the fact that the future of America, children, are going to be uneducated because of the lack of teachers that are constantly being laid off. This appeals to the sense of disappointment because the obvious fact that America is sending off teachers and laying off all the teachers here is stated. When the American public thinks about the future they think of new technology from the young children, but they won’t be able to see this vision anymore because of the state that America is in. Obama is pointing out the negative things that need to be fixed so that he’ll have a stronger positive reaction for his bill.
Donna Chow
ReplyDeletePt. 3 Extra Credit
Logos:
“Now, I realize there are some in my party who don't think we should make any changes at all to Medicare and Medicaid, and I understand their concerns. But here's the truth. Millions of Americans rely on Medicare in their retirement. And millions more will do so in the future. They pay for this benefit during their working years. They earn it. But with an aging population and rising health care costs, we are spending too fast to sustain the program. And if we don't gradually reform the system while protecting current beneficiaries, it won't be there when future retirees need it. We have to reform Medicare to strengthen it.
I'm also well aware that there are many Republicans who don't believe we should raise taxes on those who are most fortunate and can best afford it. But here is what every American knows. While most people in this country struggle to make ends meet, a few of the most affluent citizens and corporations enjoy tax breaks and loopholes that nobody else gets. Right now, Warren Buffet pays a lower tax rate than his secretary - an outrage he has asked us to fix. We need a tax code where everyone gets a fair shake, and everybody pays their fair share. And I believe the vast majority of wealthy Americans and CEOs are willing to do just that, if it helps the economy grow and gets our fiscal house in order.”
This quote appeals to logos because Obama states not only his political party’s stance but the other party as well. By having a counter argument, it strengthens the logic that for the stated argument. In this quote, Obama gives direct examples of why this bill needs to be past. He talks about Medicare and how it is beneficial because after many years of retirement people will need to fall back on something because they’ve been working all their years just to retire. This is logical because everyone will eventually have to retire old. Obama then talks from the other point of view: how Republicans don’t want to tax the rich, which he then states and example of which strengthens his argument because the amount of money that can be taken from a single person’s taxes that are extremely wealthy, such as Warren Buffet, could pay for many families’ houses.
“And now we're going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America?
There are private construction companies all across America just waiting to get to work. There's a bridge that needs repair between Ohio and Kentucky that's on one of the busiest trucking routes in North America.”
Obama appeals to logos here because he gives an example of how America should be but isn’t. He brings out the fact that there are millions of unemployed while America is lacking on new technology when compared to other developing countries. By sharing the fact about China building fast railroads, the audience will automatically know that projects like that would be able to employ thousands. This quote also appeals to logos because Obama implies that China’s booming economy would be a great example for America when it comes to jobs.
Alex Tsang
ReplyDeleteAP English
9/9/11
Extra Credit Presidential Address
Ethos:
Millions of returning heroes, including my grandfather, had the opportunity to go to school because of the GI Bill.
This is a clear appeal to ethos because it makes Obama appear more relatable. People who have watched his speech are more likely to trust someone that they can relate to. Obama makes himself appear more connected to the common man by pointing out that he too has a family he cares about. This shared value between the audience and the speaker builds a connection of trust that would only be possible with this appeal to ethos.
Everything in here is the kind of proposal that’s been supported by both Democrats and Republicans
This is an effective appeal to ethos because it reinforces the credibility of the speaker. It demonstrates that Obama is willing to come to a compromise that takes both Democrats and Republicans into account, which enhances his trustworthiness. It shows he is willing to make a fair deal that tries to appeal to all parties instead of favoring one over the other. His efforts to appeal and please everyone makes him appear a lot more credible.
Pathos:
Tonight we meet at an urgent time for our country.
This is clearly an appeal to the audience's emotion. It guilts the audience to pay more attention because their country is in trouble. It is a call to action, and people who don't respond properly will be seen as unpatriotic because they are not helping in this “urgent time for our country”. Obama stating this makes the audience feel morally obligated to listen closely to what he has to say.
What would this country be like if we had chosen not to spend money on public high schools, or research universities, or community colleges?
This quote from Obama is an appeal to emotion. By talking about things such as high schools, universities, and colleges, he makes his audience feel obligated to help, as school is essential for the nation's children and future. People that feel emotionally obligated to help the nation's children are more likely to want to pass the bill, which makes this an effective use of ethos.
Logos:
There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation. Everything in here is the kind of proposal that’s been supported by both Democrats and Republicans – including many who sit here tonight.
This is a very convincing and logical argument made by President Obama. He is simply stating that everyone should agree on this piece of legislation because it is made up of points that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. Since this is true, the only logical path of action is to support it because it would satisfy most if not all people. An argument like this is very persuasive because it is very true and logical.
It will create more jobs for construction workers, more jobs for teachers, more jobs for veterans, and more jobs for the long-term unemployed.
This is a strong argument that helps persuade people to follow Obama's plan. The government's goal is to promote the general will of the people and improve overall quality of life for the governed. With this plan, it is clear that it will “create more jobs for construction workers” and many other people. This makes a very clear argument and is thus a strong and effective appeal to logos.
“The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: to put more people back to work and more money in the pockets of those who are working. It will provide a jolt to an economy that has stalled, and give companies confidence that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services. You should pass this jobs plan right away. “
ReplyDeleteThis quote applies to logos because there clearly are high benefits for a major concern in the United States, which with this bill, can be fixed. Also, if the bill were to be passed, it would show the affects it would have on the American population, which is providing jobs for people.
“a step that can put more than $2,000 a year in a family's pocket”
This applies to logos because it provides with the added benefits of being employed, it can also increase more cushion room for a family. Instead of American’s being in debt, there could finally be a time where they have extra money to spend money without the fear of being in debt.
“Pass this bill, and hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged young people will have the hope and dignity of a summer job next year. “
This applies to pathos because it shows pity for young Americans, and later provides an opportunity for young people to work. This also shows pathos because it gives “hope” and “dignity” to young Americans in working.
“These are the men and women charged with preparing our children for a world where the competition has never been tougher. But while they're adding teachers in places like South Korea, we're laying them off in droves. It's unfair to our kids.”
This applies to pathos because it shows how “its unfair to our kids” compared to South Korea. This also applies to pathos because not only is it aimed at children, but also to teachers who are being laid off.
“Pass this jobs bill, and we can put people to work rebuilding America.”
This applies to ethos because its primarily aimed to “work rebuilding America”, instead of rebuilding other nations. Since the ethics of this quote is to better America, this shows how the bill will help achieve that goal.
“And now we're going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America?”
This applies to ethos because it comparison between China and America, and shows how we should top them. Since our ethics is to be the best, in order to do that, we must achieve higher than other nations, such as building “newer airports and faster railroads.”
Alfie Rafael
Michael Tamin
ReplyDelete[sorry this is a bit late, but I did not know that we had to post on blog (I brought a printed out copy)]
Today, I had the opportunity to listen to Obama’s Presidential Address to a joint session of Congress where he urged fellow lawmakers to support a new “jobs plan” that would help jumpstart the U.S. economy and hopefully drag America out of recession. Throughout his speech, he appealed to ethics, emotion, and logic to make his point and advertise his plan to others.
President Obama used the negative state of our current economy to apply ethos to his speech. When Obama stated that “families had to give up nights out with the family to save on gas or make the mortgage” as a result of economic hardship, it appealed to the audience’s ethics, as it is clear that it is wrong that families have to make such a decision. As residents of a developed nation, we view leisure as a basic need, and that there should always be enough money left over after taxes and necessities to enjoy one’s self. President Obama later stated that it is “unfair to our kids” when it comes to laying off teachers. He mentions that without a quality education, children will have a bleak future ahead of them, and that properly educating the future generations should be a top priority. It appeals to ethics because, due to its importance, it is wrong to deprioritize education and deprive children of the education they deserve.
Pathos, the strongest form of appeal, was also used throughout the President’s Address. Obama claims that his new plan would provide incentives to businesses who “hire anyone who’s been looking for work for over six months.” He explains the hardship one goes through due to long term employment and that it an issue that must be addressed. The topic appeals to one’s emotions, as one cannot help but imagine the hopelessness and despair one feels when they cannot find a paying job to support their family, despite trying their very best for over half a year. Later, Obama puts a positive spin in his speech by stating that “anybody can make it in America”, a statement that provides the audience with a strong feeling of hope and patriotism that the United States is and will continue to be the land of the American Dream; where success can be found.
Obama also uses a lot of appeal to logos in order to “sell” his bill to Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike. He mentions that “House Republicans have proposed the same thing” as segments of his plan, which is a logical argument used to get conservatives to accept his plan. By stating that the plan is really a bipartisan one, Obama is stating that there is no reason why Republicans should oppose the plan. Obama also claimed that “everything in this bill will be paid for”, which, logically, makes the plan seem very reasonable and fiscally responsible, although it is unknown how the cost of $450 billion can be covered. Despite the unknown, the statement makes a very huge case for the plan, and may entice members of the audience to support it.
Ethos:
ReplyDeletePresident Obama appealed to ethos in a variety of different ways. One way he appealed to ethos was when he said, “They believed in a country where everyone gets a fair shake and does their fair share -- where if you stepped up, did your job, and were loyal to your company, that loyalty would be rewarded with a decent salary and good benefits; maybe a raise once in a while. If you did the right thing, you could make it. Anybody could make it in America. For decades now, Americans have watched that compact erode.”
This appeals to ethos by stating that everyone should be rewarded if they work hard. The fact that hard working Americans are not rewarded in this country is unethical. Obama uses this appeal to ethos to enhance his argument that political reforms should be put into place that provide jobs for Americans and reward hard work.
Obama also appealed to ethos when he said, “The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities. The question tonight is whether we’ll meet ours.”
This means that he thinks it would be unethical for Congress and Washington to not act to improve the economy while Americans struggle to find work. He uses this ethical leveraging and appeal to ethos to try to apply pressure to Congress to “pass this bill.”
Pathos:
Obama also appealed to pathos. He stated, “ [this bill] will create more jobs for construction workers, more jobs for teachers, more jobs for veterans, and more jobs for long-term unemployed.”
These working groups are people that most Americans think deserve work and need to be employed. This emotional appeal connects this bill to some of America's hardest workers, which could provide popular support for the bill.
He also used pathos when stating, “Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us a economic superpower. And now we’re going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads?”
This appeals to emotion by appealing to the competitive spirit. Obama is challenging America to out-build and out-innovate China, which appeals to the competitive spirit and creates indignation that China is doing better than us at creating better airports and trains.
Logos
Obama also had many appeals to logos within his speech. He said, “But with an aging population and rising health care costs, we are spending too fast to sustain the program. [Medicare] . And if we don’t gradually reform the system while protecting current beneficiaries, it won’t be there when future retirees need it.”
This is a logical appeal to Americans. While changes to Medicare are unpopular, they are necessary to safeguard the program for future generations. Obama argues that simple math necessitates changes to Medicare to preserve it for future generations. He uses this logical appeal to try and win over support from those who argue against any changes to entitlement programs.
He also states, “ Should we keep tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Or should we put teachers back to work so our kids can graduate ready for college and good jobs? Right now, we can’t afford to do both.”
This appeals to logos by making it seem a matter of financial need, we cannot afford to spend lots of money and not take in money simultaneously. He argues that logically, we need to reform the system to encourage financial gain and eliminate loopholes to provide benefits for our citizens.