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Even students who disagreed with Bush's political
opinions acknowledged the value of his presidential oratory as a model
of the rhetorical process, if only as an illustration of the value of careful
composition and revision. Student Valerie Terrell wrote:
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Bush’s oratory is greatly varied,
depending upon the preparedness of his speeches. For example, during
his joint address to Congress on September 20, he utilizes many effective
tools of rhetoric. For example, toward the end of the speech, he
combines asyndeton and anaphora with style and eloquence, saying, “I will
not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it; I will
not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for
freedom and security for the American people.” Also, in the same
speech, he states, “Whether we bring justice to our enemies, or our enemies
to justice, justice will be done.” This is a very effective example
of chiasmus. At the very beginning of the speech, in addressing,
“fellow Americans,” he uses apostrophe in order to include the uncertain
people watching from their homes. However, in such oratory as the
remarks on the South Lawn on September 16, he lacks the style, memory,
and preparedness of this later speech, thus being a much less effective
rhetorician. He hesitates repeatedly through the speech and uses
much less sophisticated or even appropriate vocabulary. |
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This particular student experienced the rhetorical situation
firsthand when she was asked to participate in a public forum on September
11th and give a prepared speech about gender
and rhetoric. |