Barack Obama Ethos Pathos Logos

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On November 4th2008, in the heart of Chicago, cheered by 1.8 million people president Barack Obama gave his victory speech: A speech that will be remembered for ages and a speech that left lasting effect on his audience’s heart. In this ground-breaking event, he provoked hope and sketched images through his audience’s minds. This gifted orator delivered a compelling speech that built a new vision for America. Barack Obama won the hearts of his audience by delivering a persuasive speech based on rhetorical devices known as ethos, logos and pathos originated by great philosopher, Aristotle from ancient Greece. President Obama managed to express passion to his emotional crowd by building credibility, defined as the ethos by Aristotle. Ethos is the art of building trust with the audience. If one’s crowd doesn’t have faith in their speaker, then he or she would not consider his speech as well. Elements of ethos were seen in mostly the first part of president’s speech where he is building trust with millions of people across the nation. For example, one part where his honesty and credibility can be seen is when he made a statement: The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will …show more content…

He mentions how his campaign grew bigger because of these people who volunteered for this cause. By showing gratitude to those who helped him succeed, he is persuading the audience using reasoning and by giving evidence that how little amount of funds supported his campaign. He claims the reason behind his success was the hard work and devotion of the people who helped him achieve the financial strength towards his goals; otherwise, he would not have won. He further shows gratitude by declaring that it’s “their” success not