Rhetorical devices

Direct Address

Obama uses direct address throughout her graduation speech. Using direct address helps keep the audience engaged, as Obama talks about the experiences that matter to young graduates: 

It is an honor to be here with you to help celebrate this amazing milestone in your lives. Graduation from college or high school is a culmination of years of hard work, so please enjoy this moment. You deserve this celebration. Congratulations. (ll. 2-4)

In this example, Obama engages the audience by praising them for their efforts in high school and university. 

Later on, Obama uses direct address to engage the audience and to say that she understands their emotions: “So, if any of you are scared, or confused or angry or just plain overwhelmed by it all, if you feel like you’re searching for a lifeline just to steady yourse...