Forms of appeal
The main forms of appeal used by Kamala Harris in her Inauguration Speech are ethos and pathos. Harris borrows ethos from important historical figures and appeals to the audience’s emotions when she delivers her message.
Ethos
First, Harris builds ethos when she marks the historical importance of the moment: “Good evening, it is my honor to be here, to stand on the shoulders of those who came before to speak tonight as your vice president”. Here, she refers to the fact that she is the first female vice president, as well as the first Asian-American and African-American vice president. This way, she marks the importance of the moment and reinforces her position and credibility.
Then, Harris borrows ethos from important political figures, like Abraham Lincoln, Martin...