Question

In his 2011 State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama said: "To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods, and information—from high-speed rail to high-speed Internet. Our infrastructure used to be the best, but our lead has slipped. The jobs created by the transcontinental railroad & the Interstate Highway System didn't just come from laying down track or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town's new train station or the new off-ramp. We've begun rebuilding for the 21st century. And tonight, I'm proposing that we redouble those efforts. We'll put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges. Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80% of Americans access to high-speed rail. Within the next five years, we'll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98% of all Americans. This isn't just about faster Internet or fewer dropped calls. It's about connecting every part of America to the digital age." Analyze the types of appeal used in President Obama's statement. Use your findings and examples from the text to explain whether this is an argument or persuasion. Answer in a minimum of three complete sentences.

Answer 1

It is a persuasion. As his use of tone suggests that he wants to convince his target audience to think about his opinions by stating facts which are true and cause us to reflect and do the right thing.