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Rhetorical Analysis Of You Are Not Special

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Why “You’re Not Special” is Specially Effective Most commencement speeches are similarly cliché in the same way of trying express the excitement of graduation and how one could stand firm on the ground and reach for the top. A commencement speech is supposed to be inspiring, motivation and empowering to the graduates. A commencement speech should be about how uniquely special each one of us is, and how successful and bright are future will be. The above examples does not however comply with the commencement speech “You’re Not Special”, written and delivered by David McCullough Jr., to the graduating class of 2012. McCullough Jr.’s speech goes beyond the scope of any usual commencement speech by surrounding and supporting the fact that you are not special. McCullough Jr. emphasize on how there are no limit to how big this world is, and for that reason, you are not special despite how special you think …show more content…

was exceptional at using rational reasoning to turn irrational ideas into agreeable and believable ideas. “You're Not Special” is an unconventional commencement speech that have its only distinct idea that is different from mostly other speeches. It tackle on the idea of instead encouraging, inspiring, and motivating graduates at commencement, it forces them to face the unbelievable reality. That is why rational reasoning is used throughout the whole essay to prove why the idea of no one is special is very applicable to today’s society. When you think about the bigger picture outside of high school, your planet is not the centre of its solar system, your solar system is not the centre of its galaxy, your galaxy is not the centre of the universe, and astrophysicists assures that the universe has no center (McCullough Jr. 8). The above summary of the quotation from paragraph 8 uses rational lines of reasoning to show how if you were to be special, you would be the center of everything. But because there is no center in the universe, you cannot be

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David McCullough, in his Wellesley High School Commencement Address, utilizes imagery to convey to his audience that each individual possesses the same common potential. While addressing the graduating class of 2012, McCullough makes a point to emphasize how unexceptional the students are. By bringing to light the fact that the students are all wearing the same “ceremonial costume…shapeless, uniform, one-size-fits-all” (McCullough 1), he illustrates the conformity of the crowd. By depicting the cap and gown, McCullough demonstrates that each student at the ceremony are at the same level.

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McCullough’s compelling speech, “You Are Not Special”, grabs the listener's attention through the devices he uses to further progress his main point in his speech that you shouldn’t try to be special or different for the recognition or praise of others, but for your own rewarding gratification. McCullough discusses the motif of similarity and notability, but then begins to overturn this towards the end of his speech and say how no one is solely special, but that everyone is special. McCullough addresses his purpose by using powerful symbolism, descriptive logos and a delayed sentence. Many devices have contributed to McCullough’s main point that no one is special, and he elaborates on this by saying high schoolers have been coddled their

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