PB 1A

State of the Union Address

I have always have an interest in politics which led me to my current major of political science. I love to study how interactions between states fluctuate based on interests and how our leaders are elected to protect and guide us but many of them struggle to achieve this. I like to understand the political system I am living in and how the decisions of our nations leaders effect the people. The framework for an administrations goals is stated every year in January at the State of the Union Address. 
This solo speech given by the president to the American people is and example of a genre. This Address has a very specific goal to ensure and motivate the American people about their current circumstance and the progress that will be made in the next year. The president tone is very optimistic and comforting not the frighten the public. He is there to persuade them into believing that his ideas for that year will better and progress the nation. With the context attempting to be positive, many presidents try to avoid their mistakes in the past year by referring to them not as mistakes or miscalculations but as “works in progress”. This clever choice of words helps the focus of the State of the Union Address be primarily on all the good he will do, and not everything he has to fix. There is also a secondary audience, other nations. With our form of government there is a level of transparency with which other nations can see all of the speeches directed to American citizens. Therefore, during these State of the Union Addresses, the president is also aware that other nations are watching causing him to choose his words wisely to reflect well on America, but not divulge too much information to competing nations. 
Optimism and avoidance of mistakes are two conventions in this genre.If Obama in the State of the Union Address on January 20, 2015 came out and said “Our economy sucks, our military sucks, our industry is shrinking, we are wasting energy…”, people would be very unsettled. Therefore, having this optimism is vital to a successful speech and a convention throughout the genre. Questions are also an example of conventions. The president asks “are we settled with are nations economy?” stimulating a response of his audience. History is also a convention. As odd as it may seem, president’s use historical references to demonstrate how far we’ve come and how much further we have to to. Also, story telling. President’s give a narrative of someone to relate to the public and appear to understand each individual story. Families and wholesome ideals are a convention that also create the feeling of understanding between the president and his people. The concept of the American Dream falls into this category and has been apart of many State of the Union Addresses since it’s creation.

I could go on and on about every nuances of political jargon and rhetoric. However, that is 500 words and I’m sure for some of you this is not as exciting as it is for me. Thanks for reading!!!