Topic

George W. Bush’s 9/11 Address to the Nation focuses on three main topics: the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath, hope, and the American spirit.

While th…

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The 9/11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath

On 11th of September, 2001, Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger planes and flew two of them into the World Trade Center in New York City and one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Everyone on board the planes was killed, and thousands of people on the ground lost their lives. The fourth hijacked plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field, killing everyone on board. Consequently, the speaker focuses on themes that are relevant for the audience in these circumstances.

George W. Bush speaks about the attacks and their aftermath,…

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Hope and the American spirit

In his speech, Bush assures the audience that the nation will be able to heal after the attacks and that society will function as normal. This is meant to inspire a sense of hope in the audience. The speaker connects the topic of hope with core American values such as justice, peace, and caring for those in need. By speaking about these values, he reminds the audience of the American spirit which empowers every citizen.

To give the audience a sense of hope and faith in the strength of America, Bush assures …

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Argumentation

Most of George W. Bush’s 9/11 speech is characterized by direct argumentation, as the speaker is generally straightforward in expressing his views. He explicitly states information on the events of the 9/11 terrorist attacks (ll. 2-9) and is clear about the state of the country in the aftermath of these events: “Our country is strong.” (ll. 13-14).

The speaker is also very straightforward when stating the reason for the ter…