Stephanie Adjaho
English 1302
Prof. Kelley
10 February 2016
A Nation In Words
On November 4 2008 President-elect Barack Obama, following his victory in the United States presidential election, made his victory speech live to over 200,000 people at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois and millions of others over the Internet and television. 2008 was a year of change, George W Bush’s second and final four-year term of presidency was coming to an end, and sticking to the trend Obama’s campaign was of change. In his speech he used ethos, pathos and logos to define America, examine her achievements and express hope foe the future.
The president’s emotional appeal begins the moment the speech starts inviting the viewers and listeners to join in with the Obama campaign. He states “we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America”(Obama para. 3). Trying to make concrete the concept of America being a united front not consisting of colors, races, or whatever notion that people used to divide and segregate themselves. In a time when the country is particularly divided, Obama gives the victory to the people for
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The most important thing about this slogan is the way it does not discriminate. The unification and how it makes the every person a part of the campaign. His election was not won by himself but through the people who helped support him. The people and the nation as a whole is what the “we” stands for. This can be seen as an appeal to ethos. Obama uses ethos in the form of “Yes We Can” to define the nation, giving meaning to both her and the words simultaneously. By using Ann Nixon Cooper and the changes in her lifetime together “Yes We Can” to show that America has and will continue to stand strong. In the duration of his speech he not only appreciates America but also proves her worth to those who