Robert F Kennedy Speech Analysis
Robert F. Kennedy’s speech
Abdulrahman Alsaif
Prof. Christopher Ruh
Mar 20, 2016
COMS 151
Question A1: In what way do you see and hear Sen. Kennedy acting ethically as a public speaker? In other words, how was his speech the kind of public dialogue our book defines as an "ethical and civil exchange of ideas and opinions among communities about topics that affect the public?"
According to Cindy L. Griffin in her book Invitation to Public Speaking (2015). Civility is an important part of being an ethical speaker. (Ch.1) Sen. Robert Kennedy expressed the power of Ethical Public Speaking by using the effect of language. When he started with “…I have some very sad news of all of you, and I think, sad news for all of our fellow citizens, …show more content…
I had a member of my family killed." (Kennedy, 1968)
Question A3: Sen. Kennedy's speech was praised and cited as the reason there was no rioting in Indianapolis that evening. How might a less ethical speaker have spoken in a way that incited violence or even hate?
Sen. Robert Kennedy used "We" frequently throughout his speech, which is useful way to urges unity and forming his audience as one people. However, a less ethical speaker might discuss his arguments without considering to the audience's perspective.
Question B1) Listen to Robert Kennedy's speech and discuss what you think was his general purpose, specific purpose and (though he never says it in so many words) his thesis.
As Sen. Robert Kennedy mentioned in the start of his speech, the general purpose was not only delivering the news of Martin Luther King's assassination. But most specifically, the purpose was calling for a calm to avoid a major disaster that related to racial issues. That was during the hard time of racism in the United States. So the most effective way to treat this issue is by urging unity. which that was Robert Kennedy's …show more content…
How would you describe his standpoint? Is it ethnocentric? Explain.
Robert Kennedy belief not only of the needs of unity among blacks and white by reiterated it throughout his speech. But also, encouraged the audience to "dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and to make gentle the life of this world." (Kennedy, 1968)
Question D1) When/where did Robert Kennedy use poetry and/or quotations in his speech? Were these part of his introduction or his conclusion?
Prior the end of his speech, Robert Kennedy says:
“We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times. We’ve had difficult times in the past, … it is not the end of the violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; and it’s not the end of disorder.” (Kennedy, 1968)
With the repetition of “We” and "it is not" he create a rhythmic poetry pattern, which encourages unity by reminding the audience that they had overcome some hard times as one nation.
Question D2) In your opinion, and based on what we've thus far read and discussed, how effective were these
Abdulrahman Alsaif
Prof. Christopher Ruh
Mar 20, 2016
COMS 151
Question A1: In what way do you see and hear Sen. Kennedy acting ethically as a public speaker? In other words, how was his speech the kind of public dialogue our book defines as an "ethical and civil exchange of ideas and opinions among communities about topics that affect the public?"
According to Cindy L. Griffin in her book Invitation to Public Speaking (2015). Civility is an important part of being an ethical speaker. (Ch.1) Sen. Robert Kennedy expressed the power of Ethical Public Speaking by using the effect of language. When he started with “…I have some very sad news of all of you, and I think, sad news for all of our fellow citizens, …show more content…
I had a member of my family killed." (Kennedy, 1968)
Question A3: Sen. Kennedy's speech was praised and cited as the reason there was no rioting in Indianapolis that evening. How might a less ethical speaker have spoken in a way that incited violence or even hate?
Sen. Robert Kennedy used "We" frequently throughout his speech, which is useful way to urges unity and forming his audience as one people. However, a less ethical speaker might discuss his arguments without considering to the audience's perspective.
Question B1) Listen to Robert Kennedy's speech and discuss what you think was his general purpose, specific purpose and (though he never says it in so many words) his thesis.
As Sen. Robert Kennedy mentioned in the start of his speech, the general purpose was not only delivering the news of Martin Luther King's assassination. But most specifically, the purpose was calling for a calm to avoid a major disaster that related to racial issues. That was during the hard time of racism in the United States. So the most effective way to treat this issue is by urging unity. which that was Robert Kennedy's …show more content…
How would you describe his standpoint? Is it ethnocentric? Explain.
Robert Kennedy belief not only of the needs of unity among blacks and white by reiterated it throughout his speech. But also, encouraged the audience to "dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and to make gentle the life of this world." (Kennedy, 1968)
Question D1) When/where did Robert Kennedy use poetry and/or quotations in his speech? Were these part of his introduction or his conclusion?
Prior the end of his speech, Robert Kennedy says:
“We can do well in this country. We will have difficult times. We’ve had difficult times in the past, … it is not the end of the violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; and it’s not the end of disorder.” (Kennedy, 1968)
With the repetition of “We” and "it is not" he create a rhythmic poetry pattern, which encourages unity by reminding the audience that they had overcome some hard times as one nation.
Question D2) In your opinion, and based on what we've thus far read and discussed, how effective were these