Rhetorical Analysis: Julia Gillard And Rebecca Sloan

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According to Helen Sword (2012 pg.48), “A carefully crafted sentence welcomes its reader like a comfortable rocking chair” and “helps its reader navigate tricky terrain like a well-hewn walking stick”. Therefore, varying styles and methods of sentences are an important construct in the written language. Hence through examining Julia Gillard’s and Rebecca Sloan’s use of sentence structure and grammar, this rhetorical analysis will attempt to explore how differing mediums and cultural contexts of writers portrays their credibility which are effectively used to convey a particular agenda to their intended audience.

The various forms of written mediums require a specific style to portray a response to an audience. A speech can be regarded as a performance of written work, such that words are arranged in a chosen way, allowing a listener to understand what the speaker is saying. Gillard’s speech tends to draw upon Herrick’s (2005) idea that rhetoric is seen as a tool to respond to a situation or …show more content…

Building upon Gillard’s response to misogynist comments, one may question her use of language. The pronouns “I” and “he” are not inclusive of the public and brings a personal aspect to a political and social debate. This may seem to undermine the credibility of the author due to her use of the personal pronoun followed by a seemingly personal attack towards the leader of the opposition to “look in the mirror”. However Gillard’s status as Prime Minister at the time appeals to ethos as an authoritative figure who ran our country. This is reinforced by her assertive tone, confident stance and emphasis on the phrase, thus appealing to pathos, the emotional appeal in persuading the viewers. By doing so, this allows the audience to be persuaded by the emotional intensity of her response which is reinforced by Gillard’s influential

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