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Week 5 – ENG 305 Final Project John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address…
Week 5 – ENG 305 Final Project
John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20, 1961, in Washington, D.C., remains one of the most widely recognized examples of presidential oratory. Remembered as one of the most eloquent speeches in U.S. history, Kennedy’s use of rhetoric is credited with inspiring generations of Americans.
Directions for Part I:
Read John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address and answer the questions below. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm
What is the thesis (the specific purpose) of Kennedy’s speech?
What are three main points of Kennedy’s speech?
For whom was the speech intended?
What is the tone that Kennedy set for a new presidency?
What things were going on in the world that influenced JFK’s speech?
How did Kennedy inspire his audience at a time of uncertainty?
How is liberty and freedom evident in American society and how do we maintain these ideals?
Which of the following best summarizes a main point of Kennedy’s inaugural address?
Homage paid to the Greatest Generation
A call for the expansion of Cold War armaments
Public rejection of Jim Crow segregation
Encouragement of public service
Kennedy wanted to focus on foreign policy in his inaugural speech primarily because…
Domestic policies divided Americans at home
There was a wide divergence of opinion regarding federal spending
The Cold War era was coming to an end
Greater political divisions existed regarding the goals of American foreign policy
In his speech, Kennedy stated it was the responsibility of industrialized nations to…
an international peacekeeping organization
Maintain a balance of power in Asia
Put a man on the moon by the end of the decade
Help rid the world of nuclear weapons
The “greatest generation” refers to those Americans who dealt with the challenges of…
World War I and the Roaring 1920s
The Great Depression and World War II
The Cold War, especially the Vietnam War
The aftermath of the Cold War
Directions for Part II:
Read the following article about Theodore C. Sorensen, who served as JFK’s confidant and advisor, and who helped Kennedy draft his inaugural speech: https://www.neh.gov/about/awards/national-humanities-medals/theodore-c-sorensen
Then, answer the following questions:
What role did Sorensen play in aiding John F. Kennedy before and during his presidency?
In what way did Sorensen’s words contribute to Kennedy’s inaugural speech?
How important are speechwriters to political figures?
Directions for Part III:
JFK used a variety of rhetorical devices in his inaugural speech to influence and win over his listeners. Kennedy used the rhetorical devices below to convey the ideals of liberty and freedom in his inaugural address. Find six (6) separate places where he used each of the following rhetorical devices in his speech and complete the chart below.
Rhetorical Device: Parallelism
Quote from speech: ”
Explain why he chose to use this devise at this point in his speech:
Rhetorical Device: Repetition
Quote from speech: ”
Explain why he chose to use this devise at this point in his speech:
Rhetorical Device: Anaphora
Quote from speech: ”
Explain why he chose to use this devise at this point in his speech:
Rhetorical Device: Ethos
Quote from speech: ”
Explain why he chose to use this devise at this point in his speech:
Rhetorical Device: Logos
Quote from speech: ”
Explain why he chose to use this devise at this point in his speech:
Rhetorical Device: Pathos
Quote from speech: ”
Explain why he chose to use this devise at this point in his speech:
