In an essay, you will analyze the rhetorical situation for Robert F. Kennedy, “Remarks on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.” in terms of audience and occasion constraints and resources.
Instructions
View Robert F. Kennedy’s “Remarks on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.,” delivered on April 4, 1968. While you are reading, listening to, and viewing the speech, pay particular attention to how the speaker addresses his audience and think about what thought went into the preparation and delivery of the speech. Consider, also, Kennedy’s adaptation to the occasion. In an essay of 600–900 words, discuss the following things:
- demographics, culture, and psychology: Consult at least one outside source (in addition to your textbook) to determine who his audience was on that day and then use your critical thinking skills to determine what the demographics, cultures, and psychologies would likely be.
- Referring to the speech text and your textbook, explain how demographics would influence Kennedy’s rhetorical choices.
- Referring to the speech text and your textbook, explain how culture would influence Kennedy’s rhetorical choices. In particular, explain how he adapted to cultural diversity.
- Referring to the speech text and your textbook, explain how audience psychology would influence Kennedy’s rhetorical choices. In particular, explain his efforts at identification (with specific reference to the text of the speech).
- Referring to the concepts of &ldquo:illusion of life,” “virtual time,” and “incongruent messages” in the Chuang & Hart additional reading, how does Kennedy manage time as a constraint and a resource in his speech?
- How would you assess Kennedy’s ethos in this speech?
Requirements
Use at least two scholarly sources (including Chuang and Hart) to support your argument. All essays should be typed or word-processed with sources cited in the style you are most familiar with (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago). All papers should be free from typographical and spelling mistakes.