Rhetorical Analysis Of Remarks By The President In A National Address

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Matthew Wiebelhaus-Brahm
Mr. Wilson
Honor English 9
Friday, March 3, 2023

Former President Barack Obama and his speech, “Remarks by the President in a National Address to America’s Schoolchildren” explains how failure and education lead to a life full of success. Obama effectively argues that education is the most important responsibility a young person can have. The idea is that if you study and train hard enough, you will succeed in life. He demonstrates this through the use of examples of people's lives, what education can do for you, and the statistics of how people succeed, all to show the importance of education. Through the use of demonstration and imagery, Obama effectively argues the benefits of hard work despite the occasional logical misstep. …show more content…

He provides examples from his past to connect with the kids, to show how he too was once a struggling ki, “I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. And a lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table.” (para.4) Obama uses the example of how many children are often tired and doesn't want to go to school and shows how even he too was the same as a kid. This is a reminder to all the people who think that successful people were born successful but they are not. Obama teaches that “If you quit school, you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.” (para.16) Obama talks about how quitting school is a disappointment to you and your country. This represents how the people are relying on you to make the right choices and represent yourself and your country. By demonstrating national pride and examples of the past, Obama sets up the idea that if you work hard you will persevere in school you will succeed in life while making your country

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