Karrie Tonhsay

U of U Writing 2010
Erin Rogers
02/26/2015
State of the Union Address
Every year the President of the United States is assigned to give a State of the Union
address, explaining many of the goals he has accomplished throughout his presidential years.
This gives Barack Obama the opportunity to sell his agenda. The State of the Union, given by
President Barack Obama, uses rhetorical devices to persuade his audience; specifically he uses
logos, pathos, and ethos. Barack Obama is speaking towards members of congress and on behalf
of the people, informing the United States of all the accomplishments we have reached together
as one nation.
Logos is a rhetorical device using logical reasoning or statistics to prove a point. In the
State of the Union address Barack Obama uses logos, stating, Weve seen the fastest economic
growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and
health care inflation at its lowest rate in fifty years (page 3) this, specifically, is appealing
towards logical reasoning. In this quote by Barack Obama uses statistical information to inform
the people about the state of our economy. He is using statistical information to appeal to logical
reasoning, Obama states the fact that our deficits cut by two thirds while two thirds seems like
a lot, this is what appeals to the audience and has such a great effect. President Barack Obama is
attempting to persuade the audience that the economy is recovering from the past recession.

Obama states, Today, thanks to a growing economy, the recovery is touching more and more
lives. Wages are finally starting to rise again. We know that more small business owners plain to
raise their employees pay than at any time since 2007 (Page 3). President Obama is using
specific facts on how the economy is getting better which is creating the ability for small
businesses to raise their pay over the minimum wage, but also helping the publics opportunities
overall. This is logically proven by stating facts that shows us evidence, of how the economy was
back then versus since it has recovered its been improving many Americans lives.
Pathos is appealing to ones emotions. Barack Obama uses an average American familys
story to persuade us that even though times do get difficult we have the ability to overcome those
hardships. This family has run into hard times but they have slowly but surely overcome them;
Bens business dried up, so he took what jobs he could find, even if they kept him on the road
for long stretches of time. Rebekah took out student loans, enrolled in community college, and
retained for a new career. They sacrificed for each other. And slowly it paid offAmerica,
Rebekah and Bens story is our story. They represent the millions who have worked hard, and
scrimped, and sacrificed, and retooled.(Page 2). The story told is not an average all happy and
dandy story, it is supposed to prove a point of failing before succeeding. Barack Obama makes
his point by sharing someone elses story, a story that many people can relate too. By using this
story about an actual American family he is trying to connect to a larger audience. If someone is
not in the same exact situation theyre still able to relate similarly, the story can still be
emotionally appealing and affect ones feelings. Firstmiddle class economics means helping
working families feel more secure in a world of constant change. That means helping folks
afford childcare, college, health care, a home, retirement and my budget will address each
issues, lowering taxes of working families and putting thousands of dollars back into their

pockets each year(page 4). This is what makes lower class to middle class families happier; it
makes them have hope for the future that their necessities will be taken care of.
Ethos is appealing towards the authors or to other peoples credibility. Obama uses Ben
and Rebekah as an example to show how their story may have the same effects on many
Americans in similar ways or theyre able to relate to it. Families like Rebekahs still need our
help. She and Ben are working as hard as ever, but have to forego vacations and a new car so
they can pay off student loans and save for retirement (Page 2). Obama is claiming himself as a
helpful and ethical person, but is also hinting that other Americans like him having higher
authority should offer help to families in need like Ben and Rebekah. In the State of the Union
address Barack Obama also mentions the important factor of the environmental policy. He states
We believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect our planet. And today,
America is number one in oil and gas. America is number one in wind power. Every three weeks,
we bring online as much solar power as we did in all of 2008. And thanks to lower gas prices and
higher fuel standards, the typical family this year should save $750 at the pump (Page 3). This is
showing how many people have worked together to help be more responsible for taking care of
the environment, but also helping American families save money as well. This important because
it can affect everyone across the country, but by taking action it could actually help save our
environment and possibly our planet in the near future, so for Obama to take action into his
hands now with the help of others shows how he takes many other things into consideration as
well besides just the economy and politics overall, which improves his credibility in a positive
way. Environmental policy is something the nation has always held as an important factor. Its
what makes the environment a better much safer place to live in. Reducing the usage of limited

environmental factors such as oil and gas, and being able to save more money but also help save
the planet is a statement that has been said and done over and over again.
In the State of the Union address, Obama uses the three rhetorical devices pathos, logos,
and ethos to help him persuade his audience that there has been good done within this nation
throughout his presidential years. This is the speech of when he addresses all of the
accomplishments of the union.