A Neo-Aristotelian Criticism of Barack Obama’s Rhetoric in The State of the Union Addresses of 2010-2014

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore how President Barack Obama, the present president of the United States of America, employed rhetoric in the State of the Union Address in the years of 2010-2014. The study employed a neo-Aristotelian approach which is a dominant approach to criticism for examining rhetoric in public speech. In addition, three canons of rhetoric, including invention, organization, and style were applied. The findings revealed that Obama tried to enhance his credibility and gain intended responses from the audiences through the application of inartistic proofs, artistic proofs, speech arrangement, and persuasive language. The findings also suggested that Obama followed the tradition of components in his addresses. Sequences of rhetorical arguments, major ideas, and emphasis have become his major rhetorical tools to gain public attention and popularity.