Question

Read the excerpt from President Clinton's 2001 farewell address.

You have made our social fabric stronger, our families healthier and safer, our people more prosperous. You, the American people, have made our passage into the global information age an era of great American renewal.

Which rhetorical appeal does Clinton primarily use in this excerpt?

an appeal to the listeners' logical thought
an appeal to the listeners' confidence in the speaker
an appeal to the listeners' emotions
an appeal to the listeners' sense of reason

Answer 1

an appeal to the listeners' emotions

Clinton uses direct second-person praise ("You have made...") and positive, unifying language to evoke pride, gratitude, and shared accomplishment rather than presenting evidence or asserting his own credibility.