Rhetoric is the study of sufficiently using the English language in order to persuade and provide an impressive understanding which influences an audience to believe certain information. In many speeches such as this one, rhetorical strategies are used by the speaker in pursuance of adequately persuading an audience by appealing to their mental state, interests, implementing a bond based on commonality, in addition to gaining their trust and providing evidence to compose a secure argument. The speech, “9/11 Address to the Nation” presented by former president, George Walker Bush, was announced on the behalf of the tremendous fear, casualties, and the overall well being of the citizens after the terrorist attack against the United States of …show more content…
Over three thousand lives were taken in Washington D.C. and New York City. Later that day, president Bush addressed the citizens of the United States as he explained the attack to the rest of the country. Bush assured the American people that the country’s financial state would remain strong during this devastating time. Additionally, he guaranteed that a course of action would be taken in order to identify those liable and to bring them to justice. Many rhetorical strategies were used throughout George Bush’s speech. Due to this drastic event taken place under his presidency, Bush used words such as ‘our’ and ‘we’ on several occasions during his speech with a view to sympathize and share a connection with the American people. A prime example would be when he stated, “Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our way of freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts.” (Bush, “9/11 Address to the Nation”). He then used both logical and emotional evidence when he explained, “The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge -- huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger.” (Bush, “9/11 Address