Analyzing David Mccullough's 2012 Graduation Speech

As people grow up, they are told that they are special and one of a kind. However, after listening to David McCullough Jr.’s 2012 graduation speech, the listeners realize that is not the case. During his speech, he mocks the students who feel this way because of the rewards they have received, as there are a multitude of people around the country just like them. He effectively uses Aristotle’s appeals, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, to convey his thoughts to the audience.

Many students in high school look up to their teachers for guidance because they have been in the students' shoes and also the aftermath of it. Ethos is about the ethics and credibility of a person to the audience, in this case, McCullough Jr. to the students. McCullough Jr. is

He is trying to inspire those who are more nervous about moving on from high school because it is unknown. McCullough Jr. tries to emphasize the message of his speech to make things happen for yourself because it won’t always be easy and handed to you. He is using his credibility as their role model to encourage them to try and make a difference for themselves and those around them. He attempts to motivate the students to do what they love beyond high school. “No longer is it how you play the game, no longer is it even whether you win or lose, or learn or grow, or enjoy yourself doing it. Now it’s “So what does this get me?” (McCullough Jr). He uses his credibility as a successful teacher in order to give advice to the graduating class. He provides them with guidance

mentions that we are not special because everyone is. He points out, “... even if you’re one in a million, on a planet of 6.8 billion that means there are nearly 7,000 people just like you” (McCullough Jr). He encourages the graduating class to seek out opportunities, and find unique paths because everyone is ordinary. Being unique in this world is important because it enforces the world to be different, if everyone was the same no one would live a life of their one and have experiences. Being different in this world is good, you just have to go out and achieve it. McCullough strongly implements his message through his logos appeal because, throughout his entire speech, he gives facts about how people grow up believing they’re special. This leads to people always believing they are entitled to trophies, medals, certificates, and more because that is what we were always told. But “Across the country no fewer than 3.2 million seniors are graduating about now from more than 37,000 high schools. That’s 37,000 valedictorians… 37,000 class presidents… 92,000 harmonizing altos… 340,000 swaggering jocks… 2,185,967 pairs of Uggs” (McCullough Jr). His main point with his appeal is that there are so many people like us around the world, so we have to work harder. He emphasizes this point to encourage the graduating class to get out and make a difference and set themselves apart from the