Final answer:
Condoleezza Rice uses word choice to create ethos in her speech to underline the transformative power of higher education based on her family's experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the excerpt from Speech to National Council of Negro Women by Condoleezza Rice, the technique used to convey the importance of higher education is word choice to create ethos. Ethos is established through the personal experiences and credibility of the speaker, highlighting how her family’s belief in education transformed their lives. Rice’s focused use of words such as transforming, college-educated, and phrases about overcoming socioeconomic statuses, establishes her authority and trustworthiness on the subject of education's transformative power.