Part 2 of our course focused on the analysis of a wide range of political speeches and on the use of rhetorical devices. More specifically, we have studied the debate on gun violence and how different politicians presented their point of view either in defence of or against gun legislation. For this task, I decided to take on the role of Senator Christopher Murphy and to discuss the ongoing problem of weak gun control in the U.S.A. by using a political speech. This text type, written to be conveyed at the Senate after the Parkland, Florida mass shooting, best suits my intentions , since it would be likely for the topic to be discussed in the two Houses after the tragedy. It makes use of ethos, given the senator’s personality and his long history as a …show more content…
Pathos is enhanced by the appeal to a national feeling through numerous references to the American people or the U.S.A., which are a key component of American political rhetoric. The use of logos is illustrated by the presence of accurate facts, such as numbers of deaths and weapons circulating. The use of rhetorical devices, such as the opening anaphora, as well as repetitions, help to transmit the urgency of the measures the Senator believes in. Other rhetorical figures, such as the assonance utterly, ultimately and undeniably and the prosopopeia the Constitution [...] will arm are applied in order to render the text persuasive and appealing. This task has allowed me to explore and internalize the relationship between language and speeches, as well as providing me with a better understanding and application of its specificities. Word count : 300 Written Task Thank you Chairman for the floor, Honorable Colleagues, once again, I rushed home and hugged my children dearly, because I realized that their safety cannot be taken for granted in this