When I initially watched the State of the Union Address, I didn’t notice any rhetorical strategies. It was hard for me to catch by listening. So, I then decided to read the entire article and write down every rhetorical strategy that I could find. I noticed that in the beginning, Obama used a lot of rhetorical questions. He asks a question, and then immediately after, he asks the opposite, better question. For example, he says, “Will we allow ourselves to be sorted into factions and turned against one another? Or will we recapture the sense of common purpose that has always propelled America forward?” When he uses these rhetorical questions, it allows all of us, as Americans, to think about what our country is turning into and how we can change that. These questions are allowing the mood for change to be set in the very beginning. This makes the audience more open to what he has to say, later.

One of the strongest points of his speech, is when he tells the story of Rebekah and Ben. This can be considered an analogy, because it is making this small town, family story, relatable to America as a whole. It allows us to fully understand what Obama is saying, because he makes it so relevant to the entire nation. In fact, he emphasizes this by saying, “We are a strong, tight-knit family who has made it through some very, very hard times. America, Rebekah and Ben’s story is our story.” Any speaker has to make his topic relatable, and he has to have a willing audience. This story effectively brings in the audience and allows us to feel the same way that Ben and Rebekah feel.

There are also a lot of cases of oversimplification, a fallacy. This is the tendency to provide simple solutions to complex problems. There are many cases in this speech when Obama does use oversimplification. He uses it when he talks about raising minimum wage, reducing the cost of community college to zero, having free childcare, and closing Guantanamo Bay. These are all highly complex problems that he offers an easy solution for. In doing this, it gives him more popularity, because these are things that people can easily agree with. They often don’t realize the greater implications behind these “perfect” solutions, but by giving these solutions, he is able to enhance his speech, and also show that he knows what he is talking about.

In his speech, Obama also uses assertions. These are suggestions that are considered true. When Obama speaks, he has a power about his voice that gives the idea that he knows what he is doing. He is making assertions when he talks about better politics and everything great that is happening in America. He uses such power when he talks about this, that it is inevitably believed as true.

The final rhetorical strategy that Obama uses in the State of the Union Address, is to anticipate an objection. The example of this is when he says, “If you share the broad vision I outlined tonight, I ask you to join me in the work at hand. If you disagree with parts of it, I hope you’ll at least work with me where you do agree. And I commit to every Republican here tonight that I will not only seek out your ideas, I will seek to work with you to make this country stronger.” Obama is anticipating the objections that he will receive by the Republicans, and he is addressing that in his speech. He addresses it gracefully, and he does it in a way that is agreeable.

I noticed that the weaker parts of the speech had less use of rhetorical strategies. They weren’t as backed, and they sounded weaker when he spoke about them. This would be shown when he talked about better medicine.

Using this rhetorical strategies enhances Obama’s address. These specific examples are what make his arguments stronger and more effective. Using these he is able to relate, and be more likeable.