Rhetorical strategies in Stem Cell Research Speech
Rhetorical strategies used in the article.
The Text's Rhetorical Situation
author
audience
context
message and purpose
The President is telling the American people the government's opinion and views on stem cell research and how they plan to act on those beliefs.
This text is talking to the General American Public who maybe have a vested interest in stem cell research and the future of the research.
The speaker in the article President Obama and mostly likely wrote the speech along with advisors and editors to make sure that it said exactly what they wanted it to.
This was published on the website www.usnews.com and on this particular news site it seemed that there was no further analysis done to the speech other them publishing President Obama's exact words. The article goes on to bold that Obama has signed an executive order to allow government funding on stem cell research.
the website in now more focussed on providing facts and key information to students pursuing higher education. The average America would probably not be interested in reading him entire speech unless one has personal experience with the topic.
ethics and character rhetorical strategies
Logical rhetorical strategies
emotional rhetorical strategies
vague statistics at best.
brings in the counterargument.
use of the speakers public image
use of personal experience .
His word choice.
He references that there has been controversies related to the issue and realizes that everyone is entitled to their opinions when it comes to religious views. But since the government cannot be controlled by church ideals alone, they have to look at the facts of the research and they are saying to support the research with funds.
He is the President of the United States which gives him the authority to give such a speech and reach the audience on a more personal level. The people were the ones after all who elected him His job is to smooth over the decisions made by the government to the people.
He talks about how he is also a man of faith but sees the issue in another light. "As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research - and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly. "
He uses adjectives that make stem cell research seem like it will save the world. "But scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand, and possibly cure, some of our most devastating diseases and conditions. To regenerate a severed spinal cord and lift someone from a wheelchair."
His word choice here makes it seem like the future results of stem seem like a miracle, lifting someone from such a restricting wheelchair and curing the most devastating of diseases. They are very extreme adjectives that are screaming for attention.
not much of this strategy was used in the speech. There were not many facts given even though he does mention that more than half of Americans feel that stem cell research is a good investment for the government's money.
good arrangement of language.
He started out by telling all the potential good that the stem cell research can do for the health of Americans as a whole and how many diseases can be cured and lives saved. Then he brings up the controversy, bringing in an element of guilt and how even as a man of faith himself, he puts helping others first.Then he goes into the decision made by the government made in supporting stem cell research. He concludes with the great potential this research holds and how we have to stay ahead as innovators in America.
very easy to follow, understand, and want to agree with.
use of person story
Because he is faith driven as well, he has a more compelling case for those who are not sure about how to feel on the issue who are religious. It is possible for a man of faith to believe in stem cell research.
use of key words
He seems to repeat "strict guidelines" a couple times to really enforce that he will keep a firm grip on the stem cell research so that it does not get out of hand so those against it have less to worry about. He is trying to please the most number of people possible.
He uses his faith as a way to show that he understands where those who don't agree with him are coming from, but how his faith has also driven him to help all those lives that will be saved with the results of this spectacular research.
Culture
This is the President of the United States