Michelle Obama's Last Commencement Speech

The City College of New York referred to as CCNY was founded in 1847, as the Free Academy of the City of New York. The college was originally opened “to provide the children of immigrants and the poor access to free higher education based on academic merit alone.” (CITATION NEEDED) Over the years it pushed towards the progressions countless other institutions were often indifferent towards. They found ways to accept and nourish great minds that would have been otherwise excluded in their time. It is no great wonder that Former First Lady Michelle Obama devoted her last commencement address to the 2016 graduates of this institution. Mrs. Obama was raised in a working-class family by high school graduate parents that were determined to

This title will be used as an appeal to ethos for as long as she is giving speeches or for anyone who speaks of her. The sense of patriotism throughout her speech adds to this appeal as well when she makes statements such as “Because in this country, it’s never been each person for themselves. No, we’re all in this together. We always have been.”(CITATION NEEDED) Mrs. Obama also used pathos as a main rhetorical technique for her speech. It is used when she diminishes her own personal struggles after speaking of the challenges the CCNY student body have gone through. She

Pathos and ethos combined to provide the audience with a sense of respect and reverence towards not only Mrs. Obama but themselves. She alluded to the idea of the American dream in her speech as well and used this allusion to strengthen her plea for students in the audience to make societal changes by feeling obliged to reach back and share what they’ve gained from their own successes and opportunities. Mrs. Obama placed an emphasis on the power of diversity and reinforced the part everyone can play in the ideal of the American dream when she said “So, graduates, while I think it’s fair to say that our Founding Fathers never could have imagined this day, all of you are very much the fruits of their vision.” (CITATION NEEDED) She had led up to this quote by speaking of notable individuals with familial backgrounds of immigration like Jonas Salk and Colin Powell. She of course, also spoke of a man who immigrated from Kenya to focus on his education and develop a better life for himself. This was a man who would later father a son that would, one day, become the 44th President of the United States of America. With all things considered, Mrs. Obama’s speech would be considered effective because not only did the audience seem receptive to her message but it was shared concisely and without pretension. She showed pride and respect in the people