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Will Ferrell has the opportunity to give a commencement speech to graduates at USC
where he made the best of it. Graduation day is occasionally celebrated where a significant
number of students represent the finale of their student life. Nevertheless, this is a day which
could be filled by uncertainties to the college students because they might not get a job
immediately after graduation. Such changes make the students vulnerable, and this is the reason
why commencement speech is of great significance during the graduation day (Romano, 4). The
Notably, will claim that one can never be successful until they learn to give behold them
no matter how chestnut it may sound. Kindness and empathy are the actual signs of emotional
intelligence, and he claims that it is what he teaches his children to be successful in future. To
him, success is being kind and being involved in the charity work during the college year which
gives scholarship only to the participants (Romano, 5). Will congratulated those who were
graduating, having a pretty good idea of what they are likely to do with their lives. He also
encouraged those who do not have any idea to empower their life ahead confirming that it is the
Throughout his commencement speech, his primary purpose was to motivate the student
through sharing his both failure and personal success stories. His general message to the students
and their parents is that: it is all well not to have all that they want at the moment so long as they
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are right and believe to themselves they are likely to achieve their dream success (Ferrell).
Moreover, will point out that the extend degree one should measure one's success to others but
not to one's achievement through fame and fortunes. Will uses ethos and pathos in delivering his
Ferrell shared various anecdotes from his time as a student at USC; he emphasized that
he was not afraid to follow his guts and pursue other interest despite the fact that he remained
committed to his chosen major. In addition, his firm ethos succeeded in giving a cemented base
for the credibility of his speech to the graduates (Romano, 1). He was able to establish a common
ground with the graduates through sharing his experience both negative and positive. Will Ferrell
as he was delivering his speech, put himself in the shoes of his audience and encouraged them
that he was once seated where they were. Thus, having the same feeling of uncertainty since he
It comes not as a surprise that Will Ferrell uses humor to convey the pathos appeal
because of his undeniable fame as a comedic actor. His comedic persona is consistent throughout
his speech since he gave comedic relieve to keep his audience as a tool to connect with them. In
his remarks, Will started by thanking the students for their clapping and eventually apologizing
to parents who did not agree with him (Romano, 5). Chiefly, he goes on and says that his
achievement in life includes running naked through the city thinking that is on fire. It is through
the use of this self-deprecating humor that it is Ferrell's smart way of humbling his celebrity
status. Therefore, he is in a position to give his message in a relevant setting. In addition, Will
added that he wants the university to know that he does not take the proffered prestigious honor
with lightweight (Romano, 3). He says that he had instructed his wife and children to call him
Moreover, through his excellent personality as a comedian, his voice, and choice of
words match the tone since it is honest and inspiring. He uses various rhetorical devices such as
metaphor where he says he is just trying to throw darts at the dartboard hoping that one will
finally stick. Through that metaphor, Will meant that he was overconfident thus he ought to
succeed through this period (Romano, 1). Moreover, he also uses hyperbole as he commences his
speech through saying that he is determined to make the University know that he does not take
the given chance lightly but he is grateful for the opportunity. Will says that his family should
call him with the title Dr. and no one should be an exception. Therefore, Will Ferrell uses
exaggerative and metaphorical language and careful selection of words he uses in his speech thus
In conclusion, Will Ferrell gives a speech which is motivational and encouraging to his
audiences most likely the graduates stuck in thoughts of the ideas they should maneuver in
achieving their life dreams. The use of comedy draws the attention of the audience thus
participating in the speech. He uses humor as a narrative style to remain funny thus entertaining
the audience.
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Work Cited
Romano, Nick. "Will Ferrell Channels Whitney Houston during USC Commencement Speech."
url=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ebscohost.com%2flogin.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26db
%3dedb%26AN%3d123028675%26site%3deds-live.