Tasks: State of the Union Address

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States — (applause) — and my fellow citizens:

Three years ago, we launched the great American comeback. Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results. Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging, and our country is thriving and highly respected again. (Applause.) America’s enemies are on the run, America’s fortunes are on the rise, and America’s future is blazing bright.

The years of economic decay are over. (Applause.) The days of our country being used, taken advantage of, and even scorned by other nations are long behind us. (Applause.) Gone too are the broken promises, jobless recoveries, tired platitudes, and constant excuses for the depletion of American wealth, power, and prestige.

In just three short years, we have shattered the mentality of American decline, and we have rejected the downsizing of America’s destiny. We have totally rejected the downsizing. We are moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago, and we are never, ever going back. (Applause.)

America is the place where anything can happen. America is the place where anyone can rise. And here, on this land, on this soil, on this continent, the most incredible dreams come true.

This nation is our canvas, and this country is our masterpiece. We look at tomorrow and see unlimited frontiers just waiting to be explored. Our brightest discoveries are not yet known. Our most thrilling stories are not yet told. Our grandest journeys are not yet made. The American Age, the American Epic, the American adventure has only just begun.

Our spirit is still young, the sun is still rising, God’s grace is still shining, and, my fellow Americans, the best is yet to come. (Applause.)

Thank you. God Bless You. And God Bless America. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

END

Logos is Greek for ‘word’. A speech that has a strong logos appeals to logic and focuses its attention on the message of the speech. It tries to persuade the audience with reason, using facts and figures.

Ethos focuses the attention on the writer’s or speaker’s trustworthiness. A speech with a strong ethos appeals to the audience by emphasising the speaker's credibility and authority.

Pathos is used in texts and speeches to sway an audience emotionally. It appeals to our imaginations and feelings and tries to convince people through an emotional response.

Kairos refers to the timeliness of an argument. For a speech to have kairos you need to make exactly the right statements at the right time and place. Calling something kairotic is also subjective: What may be exactly the right moment for one reader or listener might be all wrong for someone else.