Kennedy, Devices, and Analyses

AP Language. Thu, Aug 30th, 2012 at 4:45 pm

Themes: Analysis, Inaugural Address, JFK, Rhetorical Devices, Speech

We wrapped up our reading of President Kennedy’s Inaugural Address today, adding a couple more terms to our list of rhetorical devices:

Anaphora: “To those . . . . To those . . . .” “Let both sides . . . . Let both sides . . . .”
Chiasmus (antimetabole): “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Your assignment is to look at one of three topics in his speech (unity; past, present, future; and self-sufficiency), clarify his message (he isn’t just arguing “Unity”â€”what is he trying to convince his audience about unity?), and analyze how he presents it using the three rhetorical appeals. This isn’t a formal assignment, so complete it as you will so that you can maintain an insightful conversation about his rhetoric.

In addition to the above, you should turn in your second article analysis on Tuesday after the break.