An Analysis of President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union Address

President Obama, in his 2013 State of the Union Address, describes how the issues in education, job creation, new technologies, and environmentalism are crucial in the growth and development of our economy. His purpose is to urge members of Congress and Americans to help reform our government to ensure that those who work hard are able to succeed. Speaking with an authoritative voice, he persuades his audience that although things are going better than before, changes still need to be made to continue to improve the American way of life.
Obama begins by acknowledging that progress has been made. There are “six million new jobs… we buy more American cars than we have in five years, and less foreign oil than we have in 20” (Obama). His assurances suggest that the United States economy is recovering and making large strides toward bouncing back from the recession. This starts things off in a positive direction and inspires pride that our nation is on the path to economic recovery. Afterward, he explains that many Americans’ “hard work and dedication have not yet been rewarded” (Obama), because many Americans cannot attain full-time employment. He emphasizes the fact that those in the top one percent income bracket are enjoying the highest profits while lower incomes haven’t increased much at all in over a decade. This appeals to the working class who feel it’s unfair that their hard work goes unrewarded.
Obama appeals to the audience’s character by asking a list of questions. “Every day, we should ask ourselves three questions as a nation: How do we attract more jobs to our shores? How do we equip our people with the skills they need to get those jobs? And how do we make sure that hard work leads to a decent living?” (Ob...

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...te our youngest children, like Georgia or Oklahoma, studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own” (Obama). He goes on to encourage high schools to include programs that ensure high school graduates receive a “high school diploma and an associate’s degree in computers or engineering” (Obama). This would prepare the graduate for a good job straight out of high school, which is tempting to those who cannot afford a higher education.
By using a combination of ethos and pathos, Obama successfully instills in his audience the importance that education, technology, job creation and being environmentally conscious have to our economic future.

Works Cited

Obama, Barack H. "The 2013 State of the Union Address." The White House. N.p., 13 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.