A different kind of RA

*I chose the Bob Dole ad, "The Story" from the 1996 election series*

Bob Dole gets right to the point in this ad by getting at Americans' guilt, as well as their children. He tells Americans that they have a moral obligation to give their children a country with the same opportunity and values of the nation they themselves grew up in. Right away people's emotions start to stir, and they think, "Yeah! My kids deserve the best." Bringing up children makes this emotional appeal very effective in my opinion (although not effective enough obviously, given the outcome of the election), because the strong ties that parents have with their kids is a strong impetus for action.
After he's done telling Americans about their obligation to create the same, if not a better, America for their children, Bob Dole's life story begins.
As an audience, it is always a positive thing to get to know who is speaking to us. In this case it is even more crucial because we need to know why we should listen to this guy in the first place. So they put it all out there. He grew up in Kansas, learned wonderful values from his parents like hard-work, honesty, and responsibility. He served in the military, got seriously wounded, and had a miraculous comeback story to show, if for no other reason, that he is not a quitter. All of these sappy, nostalgic details appeal to and bolster Dole's credibility (and possibly authority) as an individual as well as an American. His audience now knows a little about him, and even more about his true-blue American values. I think this is more effective for the average Joe than the thinking individual, simply because it is so vague and gushy.

If it weren't obvious enough at this point that Bob Dole is an American "just like you," the narrator comes back in with the words "Like many Americans." He then elaborates on how life experience has given Dole a moral compass, and further emphasizes the principles and some of the goals he has for his presidency. By bringing up these goals I'm not sure if it nails a specific appeal, but it allows American voters to know what issues he is targeting, which I think is effective for letting voters identify with him.

The ad concludes with Dole explaining the importance of values: how they are what you stand for and sacrifice for. Thus, he wraps it up with another emotional appeal. Practically every single American can identify with the importance of values in our lives. Since they are so important, it is probably important for the man leading the country to have strong moral values. Now that I'm writing this it seems more like an appeal to logic than emotion, as if to say "Since Bob Dole has good moral values and values are so important, you should vote for him." Perhaps it just works both sides of the street, and does hit two different appeals.

Whatever the case, Bob Dole is chock full of values.



And apparently that's not all you need to win an election.

Oh i'll show you rhetoric

I don't know if Bishop H David Burton meant to fill his talk with rhetorical strategy. But with a talk all about how we as members are doing service around the world, the ethical and emotional appeals couldn't help but show their wonderful shining faces. Bishop Burton's talk, entitled And Who Is My Neighbor?, was an uplifting and heartwarming message about the positive effects that members of the church have made around the world. It also served as a reminder that all of us can do more to serve our neighbors, whether they share our faith or not.
Most of Bishop Burton's rhetorical "strategy," per se, was in examples of how members have served. Telling the story of church members helping the people of Lima, Peru, who had been rocked by an 8.0 earthquake can't help but evoke emotion within us. We love to hear about people helping people.
He used numbers and facts to bolster his authority, telling just how many earthquakes, wildfires, floods, famines, and other disasters (and in how many countries) church members and missionaries had provided aid for.
He further appealed to emotions by sharing the reactions from some individuals who had been helped. The reading of a note of appreciation to the LDS helpers in the San Diego area certainly found a place in my heart.
There were many more examples of assistance around the world that evoked emotion, but since they're along the same line I won't go into detail. It was inspiring to read back about humanitarian aid for tsunami victims, the working towards clean drinking water for all in Ethiopia, and efforts to eliminate measles.
Rhetoric has the power to be used for good or evil, and in this case it was definitely used for good.