Question

Choose one of the "Persuasive American Speeches" listed in the "Supplemental Readings" section of the course lessons. Discuss purpose and the claim of the speech. Explain how the speech supports this claim (logos, ethos, and/or pathos). Is the opposing side mentioned? Also, describe the method of argumentation you believe is used in the speech (Toulmin? Rogerian? A mixture of both?). Give citations to back up your points, and create a final works cited citation for this essay.

Answer 1

One that I chose was the president John F. Kennedy's inaugural address on January 20, 1961. The main purpose of this speech for me was to bring peace to America in that time and also the world. Something that I noticed was when he mentions throughout his speech about how people should fight for the freedom of the men. Talking about the relations with other nations in that time, we as a country should come together against the "tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself" (line 22)