Speech Ethos Pathos Logos
ENGL 1302
4 November, 2013
Revealing Rhetoric in Historical Speeches During every campaign season, politicians and activists seek approval of the public by affirming issues of concern and making decent pledges to the electorate. They use rhetorical techniques as well as political gimmickry to capture the public’s attention, get their approval and persuade them tactfully, all this in order to achieve power. This is interesting because the public’s approval plays a significant role in ascertaining the president’s political power and policy-making.
Comparing Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet” and Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” reveals strands of logos and pathos. For example, Malcolm X’s speech “The Ballot or the Bullet,” addresses …show more content…
This is interesting because Malcolm stresses that he is addressing the social, economic and political issues that face the black people and not their religious beliefs. Additionally, Malcolm X speaks of hard truths that the blacks had learned to embrace as a normal life. For instance, in his speech, Malcolm states “It isn 't that time is running out -- time has run out!” He does not use emotions to bring his points across; nor does he dwell on the religious values of not revenging and perseverance. Malcolm calls upon his people to demand change, to demand equality and to die for them if they are not granted. He mainly uses logos to persuade the people to change their situation. Unlike Malcolm, King addresses the public about his dream in his famous “I have a Dream” speech. The speech is filled with pathos to pass his point across. The theme builds up with an appeal of consciousness of the white people and a renewed hope for people of his own skin color. He wants them to
4 November, 2013
Revealing Rhetoric in Historical Speeches During every campaign season, politicians and activists seek approval of the public by affirming issues of concern and making decent pledges to the electorate. They use rhetorical techniques as well as political gimmickry to capture the public’s attention, get their approval and persuade them tactfully, all this in order to achieve power. This is interesting because the public’s approval plays a significant role in ascertaining the president’s political power and policy-making.
Comparing Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet” and Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” reveals strands of logos and pathos. For example, Malcolm X’s speech “The Ballot or the Bullet,” addresses …show more content…
This is interesting because Malcolm stresses that he is addressing the social, economic and political issues that face the black people and not their religious beliefs. Additionally, Malcolm X speaks of hard truths that the blacks had learned to embrace as a normal life. For instance, in his speech, Malcolm states “It isn 't that time is running out -- time has run out!” He does not use emotions to bring his points across; nor does he dwell on the religious values of not revenging and perseverance. Malcolm calls upon his people to demand change, to demand equality and to die for them if they are not granted. He mainly uses logos to persuade the people to change their situation. Unlike Malcolm, King addresses the public about his dream in his famous “I have a Dream” speech. The speech is filled with pathos to pass his point across. The theme builds up with an appeal of consciousness of the white people and a renewed hope for people of his own skin color. He wants them to