“I don't want to send another generation of American children to failing schools. I don't want that future for my daughters. I don't want that future for your sons. I do not want that future for America.” –Barack Obama
This quote clearly implements pathos. In referring to his daughters and America’s sons, he appeals to the audience’s emotions. He plays towards their emotions of wanting something better for the future. Though the education our parents received was not ideal, Obama uses pathos to make the audience believe that improvements can be made. While the education system has not been the greatest in the past, Obama wants the audience to believe that he can fix it and build a brighter future for our children.
This quote also clearly implements ethos. In taking this stance on education and saying how he wants a better future for America, he is making an appeal towards his character. By saying he wants to better the education system for future generations, he is hoping to improve his character. He is attempting to show the audience how he is a knowledgeable, considerate, and the best fit to deal with this issue and any others. Obama wants to seem kind hearted, yet strong at the same time. He is directly trying to persuade the audience by using his character to seem kind and the best for the job.
Demonstrated in this quote is the rhetorical strategy of comparison-contrast. He compares our parents’ generation to the generations of the future. Also, he contrasts the current failing educational system to a better one that he could create, were he elected President. He contrasts the futures that his generation received to brighter futures that he could create for future generations by fixing the education system.
Also demonstrated in this quote is the rhetorical strategy of classification and division. By saying that he does not want that future for his daughters, as well as your sons and America, he puts everyone into the same classification. Obama, by making the classification of the future generations of America, shows that a better education system would benefit everyone. He shows how the product of better school fit into the larger scheme of a brighter future for America.
Obama addresses the opposing arguments with evidence and rebuttal. One of the problems is titled “No Child Left Behind Left the Money Behind.” Here, Obama demonstrates a use of rebuttal. He states that “the goal of the law was the right one,” presenting the opinion fairly and respectfully. He then, however, demonstrates why “No Child Left Behind” by showing how it didn’t work and is not a valid argument. He says that the unfulfilled funding promises, inadequate implementation by the Education Department, and shortcomings in the design of the law limited its effectiveness and undercut its support. Another of Obama’s issues is titled “High Dropout Rate.” With this argument, Obama demonstrates a use of evidence. Obama provides statistics such as, “Only 70% of U.S. high school students graduate with a diploma,” to show how the high dropout rate is a major problem in the current educational system.
