English Final
1 additions to document , most recent 9 months ago
| When | Why |
|---|---|
| Jan-21-25 | Wording change |
1 changes, most recent 9 months ago
Rita Dove, a well known poet who has won a Palitzer prize as well as having served as the United States Poet Laureate from 1993 to 1995, delivers a commencement address to the graduating students at the University of VIrginia at Charlottesville, where she was a professor of English. Through this speech, Dove doesn't want to simply provide advice, she wants to give the graduating class wishes. Whether it be through her various high ranking achievements, or her ability to create connections between herself and the audience, Dove aims to employ a lasting and personally impactful theme with this speech
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immediately, the mass majority of the graduating class have at least heard of who Dove is through either having her as a teacher or hearing about her many accolades. Although Dove doesn't necessarily mention these accolades until the end of the speech, it is important to note that her simply giving the commencement speech does have an early impact on how the graduating class will interpret the address. Dove quickly creates a genuine connection with the graduating class by enforcing the idea that despite the many commencement speeches she has given, this one in particular is different—this is personal. Through stating this, it shows the graduating class that this isn't any other address, she wants her words to be valuable to them. On top of this, Dove explains how she is going to make this speech individual: by not simply giving them advice, as that isn't specific enough, but to give them wishes. Through this relatively strange but effective method of proceeding with a commencement speech, it shows the graduating class that they indeed are different from any other class, generating a sense of trust towards what Dove will wish the students. Dove also uses personal connection such as bringing up a converstion with her father where he gives the advice of making sure she is always "150% prepared." This short example gives the sense of humanity as everyone was once a child being given advice.
immediately, the mass majority of the graduating class have at least heard of who Dove is through either having her as a teacher or hearing about her many accolades.
Although Dove doesn't necessarily mention these accolades until the end of the speech, it is important to note that her simply giving the commencement speech does have an early impact on how the graduating class will interpret the address.
Dove quickly creates a genuine connection with the graduating class by enforcing the idea that despite the many commencement speeches she has given, this one in particular is different—this is personal.
Through stating this, it shows the graduating class that this isn't any other address, she wants her words to be valuable to them.
On top of this, Dove explains how she is going to make this speech individual: by not simply giving them advice, as that isn't specific enough, but to give them wishes.
Through this relatively strange but effective method of proceeding with a commencement speech, it shows the graduating class that they indeed are different from any other class, generating a sense of trust towards what Dove will wish the students.
Dove also uses personal connection such as bringing up a converstion with her father where he gives the advice of making sure she is always "150% prepared."
This short example gives the sense of humanity as everyone was once a child being given advice.
Personally, I don't think Dove’s wishes are special in any way—essentially just wishing them to work hard and continue to learn—although because of how she set up the wishes, it makes them much more personal and impactful. Despite my previous statement, throughout the wishes Dove does reinstate some relatable values as well as list off her various achievements to build upon this sense of trust and integrity that she hopes to emit throughout the speech. Through Dove's ability to set this graduating class apart from others, she creates a sense of trust, allowing her words to genuinely impact each student personally.
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Your analysis presents a thoughtful exploration of Dove’s approach, showcasing how she crafts a personal and impactful connection with her audience. You’ve identified key rhetorical choices like her decision to offer “wishes” rather than “advice,” effectively making her speech unique. By highlighting statements like “this one is different—this is personal,” you successfully show how Dove’s intent is to relate on a deeper level.
Remember that concrete examples strengthen your argument. You could expand your explanation by diving deeper into how Dove’s personal anecdotes or references to figures like Percy Bysshe Shelley enhance her ethos.
Want to explore more? Consider examining how Dove’s use of anecdotes supports her theme of perseverance, how her tone creates a sense of motivation, or how repetition reinforces her message. Let me know which direction you want to take, or if there’s another aspect you’re curious about!
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In your analysis of Rita Dove’s use of anecdotes, you’ve painted an expressive picture of her connection with the audience. Dove’s speech is laden with personal stories, which serve as illustrative examples of her journey and underscore her perseverance. One powerful anecdote involves her father’s advice of being “150% prepared,” which frames her message of hard work and lays out perseverance as vital for success. By sharing her personal experiences, Dove not only builds credibility but also inspires her audience to reflect on their own paths and aspirations, creating a compelling narrative that resonates personally.
To enrich this theme, you might consider analyzing how Dove’s tone further instills motivation through her rhetorical expressions, or the strategic repetition of “I wish you” to emphasize these desires as achievable goals. Would you like to delve into any of these angles or explore something else within Dove’s rhetoric?
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like your helpful AP English Language teacher in room 126.
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