Obama’s ISIS Speech
Learning Target
Target 1: Students will be savvy consumers of
media. This means students will be able to
understand, analyze, evaluate and use different
types of media. (Speaking, Viewing, Listening,
and Media Literacy 11.9.7.7)
I can use annotation as a strategy to help me
more closely read and comprehend a speech.
Obama’s speech on fighting ISIL
President Obama’s speech
Purpose:
How will U.S. respond to terrorist threats of ISIL?
(ISIL stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant)
• Beheading of journalists
• Syria and Iraq
• Eve of 9/11
• Opposing concerns of Americans:
 most don’t want another war
 U.S. should not have to do this alone, other
countries should get involved
Rhetoric is speaking or writing effectively.
Rhetoric is using words for a purpose, often to persuade
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Words are power.
John Keating: No matter what anybody tells
you, words and ideas can change the world.
Aristotle
Defined elements of
effective argument
(rhetoric) in 4th Century
BC
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Rhetorical Situation
Writer/Communicator
Audience/Reader
Subject/Message
• Ethos is appeal based on the character of the speaker. An
ethos-driven document relies on the reputation of the
author.
• The speaker sets up his/her credibility.
• Ego = self
• Example: I have been teaching writing for twenty years . .
.
www.rpi.edu/dept/llc/webclass/web/project1/group4/
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Aristotle.html)
Ethos
• Logos is appeal based on logic or reason. Documents
distributed by companies or corporations are logosdriven. Scholarly documents are also often logosdriven.
• Logos = logic (use facts)
• Example: Eighty percent of the writers interviewed said they write
at least four rough drafts before they publish a piece of writing.
www.rpi.edu/dept/llc/webclass/web/project1/group4/
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Aristotle.html)
Logos
• Pathos is appeal based on emotion.
Advertisements tend to be pathos-driven.
• Pathos = sympathy / empathy
• Writers create pathos by using effective word
emotional images and stories.
Pathos
choice and
Rhetorical Situation
Writer/Communicator
Audience
American people
Congress
Other world leaders
ISIL terrorists
Audience/Reader
Speaker
Presidential
Confident
Credible
Powerful
(Gestures, delivery,
speech tone, dress, facial
expressions)
Subject
Reason for the plan
Clear plan
Subject/Message
Analyze President Obama’s decisions as a writer and presenter.
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isisterror/president-obama-lays-out-isis-strategy-n200661
Annotate Obama’s speech
5 – 10 annotations
per page
Underline examples of Ethos
Highlight Pathos
Circle words and phrases he uses to create emotion
(Pathos)
Highlight phrases where he is directly addressing
audience and their fears/concerns.
Circle examples of Logos
Also, write in the margin to identify other effective
strategies he uses in the speech: structure, examples,
word choice