Jfk Rhetorical Devices Analysis

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Faith Pander, Mrs. Meszaros AP Lang. 23 April 2024 Kennedy’s Use of Rhetorical Devices President John F. Kennedy, in his speech on April 2, 1962, zealously argues that the rise in the cost of steel is selfish and immoral. Utilizing logos, purposeful diction, and a persuasive tone, Kennedy passionately condemns the actions of steel corporations. Kennedy utilizes these rhetorical devices to shame the steel industry into lowering their prices, as well as stir up public outcry in order to pressure steel corporations into making change. Additionally, the intended audience is the American public, and, therefore, because Kennedy was the President, there was no need for him to establish his authority with the audience. Throughout the speech, Kennedy …show more content…

He also claims, "the cost of materials has been declining"(Line 62-63). Therefore, the price of steel should have been decreasing rather than increasing. Moreover, he employs logos, logical claims, in order to convey the absurdity of the price hike. In order to increase the influence of his speech, Kennedy utilizes very purposeful diction. For example, when describing the effects of the price hike on America and the Vietnam War, he repeats the word "handicap," which effectively conveys the damage being done by the steel corporation’s actions (Lines 28 and 43). In contrast, when Kennedy is discussing the government's actions, he uses words like "protect" and "freedom”. This persuasive use of diction is effective in convincing the brain to feel positively about the government (Lines 97 and 104). Therefore, ultimately, Kennedy's intentional diction allowed him to effectively defend his position and manipulate an individual’s biases on a subconscious level. Lastly, Kennedy employs persuasive diction throughout his speech. In line 20, he describes the actions of the steel corporations as showing "utter contempt" for the American

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