Rhetorical Analysis Of A Powerful Commencement Speech By J. K. Rowling

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In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a powerful commencement speech to the 2008 Harvard graduates. Her use of ethos and pathos help to develop a strong connection with the crowd that is needed to completely relay a message. She also reveals personal moments from her past, such as poverty and working at an African Research Department, to convince the audience that failure and imagination are two key parts in success. Rowling builds her credibility by using ethos. She connects with the audience at the very beginning of her speech by using humor. To make herself and the audience feel more comfortable she makes jokes, for instance looking at the flags and "trying to convince myself I'm at the world's largest Gryffindor reunion". It creates an emotional

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