Entry #2

Lexie Buttle (1205040846)

Dr. Oshea

Eng 102

1/15/13

            Throughout Barack Obama’s speech on “the Connection between faith and politics” he used many manipulative tactics to grasp the audience and influence them to see his opinion in a brighter light. Not only does president Obama use pathos in his speech, he also uses ethos and logos. Barack starts off by going in to the depth of the character of his opponent of US Senator of Illinois back in 2004. He informs the audience that his opponent, Alan Keys, was an extremist. Also, using pathos, Keys tried to “persuade people to hate an enemy”(p41). Barack Obama connected the emotion of the religious impact while not going overboard.

            Furthermore, Barack Obama made a theme that “religion matters” throughout his speech by relating the influence of religion throughout his life and political career. “Just like writers mention their affiliation”, Obama mentions his Christianity background through a church in Chicago. By connecting his own beliefs and experiences to focus principles, Barack directs the attention of the audience to his character. He also touches base on important political figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. to assert the idea that faith is the underlining guide in politics.  Barack Obama also shows respect for his audience by neither going “above nor below [the audiences] capabilities”(p62). In addition, the president provides facts and percentages of people who are believers in God, angels, and people who do not believe in any higher power. The president goes to the core of    cultural values and makes a strong argument using facts and logic.

                                                            Works Cited

Everything’s an Argument. Andrea A. Lunsford & John J. Ruskiewicz 5^th ed. Boston:                   

              For Bedford/St Martin’s 2010