Question

Answer the following text-dependent questions. These questions come from page 72 in your Springboard textbook. Refer back to the speech by Obama (pages 68-72) to answer the questions.

Key Ideas and Details:
The president begins his speech with statements about the audience’s feelings and then a story about his own childhood. Why does he begin his speech in this way?

A) To show his sympathy and connect with the audience emotionally.

B) To create suspense and engage the audience's attention.

C) To demonstrate his authority as the president.

D) To introduce a new policy initiative.

Key Ideas and Details:
What is the main idea of this speech?

A) The importance of unity and cooperation among citizens.

B) The president's personal achievements and struggles.

C) The need for economic reforms in the country.

D) The challenges faced by the government in foreign policy.

Craft and Structure:
What rhetorical appeal (logos, ethos, or pathos) is represented by the hypothetical situations in paragraph 9?

A) Logos

B) Ethos

C) Pathos

D) None of the above

Craft and Structure:
What type of appeal is most prominent in paragraphs 13-16? Why might the speaker choose to include his own personal story here?

A) Logos; to present logical arguments and evidence.

B) Pathos; to evoke emotions and empathy from the audience.

C) Ethos; to establish credibility and trustworthiness.

D) None of the above; personal stories are not appeals.

Craft and Structure:
In paragraph 17, what is the effect of the president’s repeated use of the word maybe?

A) It creates a sense of uncertainty and encourages reflection.

B) It strengthens his argument with definitive statements.

C) It confuses the audience and weakens his position.

D) It adds humor to the speech and lightens the mood.

Craft and Structure:
In paragraphs 18-24, what does the president do to overcome potential resistance by his audience? Does this approach rely more on logos or pathos? Explain.

A) He presents statistical data and expert opinions to appeal to logic (logos) and reason.

B) He shares personal anecdotes and connects emotionally with the audience (pathos).

C) He uses formal language and appeals to his credibility as the president (ethos).

D) He employs humor and satire to engage the audience's emotions (pathos).

Craft and Structure:
What is the purpose of the questions the president asks in paragraph 34?

A) To challenge the audience's beliefs and provoke critical thinking.

B) To express his own doubts and uncertainties about the topic.

C) To highlight his own achievements and successes.

D) To emphasize the urgency of the situation and call for immediate action.

Working from the text:
Review the rhetorical appeals definitions at the beginning of the activity. Find one example of each appeal from President Obama’s speech and write the quote next to the appropriate rhetorical appeal.

Logos: "We move this country forward based on rational, evidence-based decisions."

Pathos: "I share your hopes, I share your concerns, I share your dreams for a better future."

Ethos: "As your president, I stand before you as a testament to what hard work and determination can achieve."

Answer 1

The president begins his speech to connect emotionally with the audience. The main idea of the speech is the importance of unity and cooperation among citizens. The president's use of hypothetical situations and personal stories appeals to emotions and empathy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Key Ideas and Details: The president begins his speech with statements about the audience’s feelings and a story about his own childhood to connect with the audience emotionally (option A), showing his sympathy and building a rapport with the listeners.

Key Ideas and Details: The main idea of this speech is the importance of unity and cooperation among citizens (option A). The president emphasizes the need for working together and overcoming divisions.

Craft and Structure: The hypothetical situations in paragraph 9 represent a pathos rhetorical appeal (option C). The speaker uses emotional examples to engage the audience and evoke feelings of empathy.

Craft and Structure: The type of appeal most prominent in paragraphs 13-16 is pathos (option B). The speaker shares his personal story to elicit emotions and empathy from the audience.

Craft and Structure: In paragraph 17, the repeated use of the word 'maybe' creates a sense of uncertainty and encourages reflection (option A). It shows the speaker's humility and invites the audience to consider different perspectives.

Craft and Structure: In paragraphs 18-24, the president presents statistical data and expert opinions to appeal to logic and reason, making his approach rely more on logos (option A). He supports his arguments with facts and logical reasoning.

Craft and Structure: The purpose of the questions the president asks in paragraph 34 is to challenge the audience's beliefs and provoke critical thinking (option A). By asking thought-provoking questions, the speaker encourages the audience to reflect on their own views.