State of the Union 1/30/18

Please read the “ground rules” listed below before posting at least 3 contributions to our discussion. (Note, you may contribute more if you'd like.  Remember, if you choose not to join us live, there are many opportunities  to contribute to our discussion after watching/reading the President’s Address,  the Democratic Party Response, and the ensuing political/media fallout in other ways:  online video clips, online news/media analysis, print articles, twitter feeds, etc. Tonight’s State of the Union Address : January 30th at 7PM on every TV and cable news network; it’ll be streaming online on YouTube, news network,  and the Whitehouse.gov websites. In short, it's hard to miss. Discussion Ground Rules: Keep all comments related to the materials associated with rhetoric and its effectiveness avoid attacking/discussing the political viewpoints or personalities unless it's genuinely relevant. Abide by all behavioral expectations as a real-life classroom....

Include commentary and analysis of the rhetorical stances and opinions held by media and political outlets following both the Presidential Address and the Republican Response. When commenting, feel free to bring to bear your own rhetorical stance to either of these speeches, but also attempt to analyze the rhetoric of others in reaction to what is said tonight. Any and all response are fair game for a rhetorical analysis--even the comments of your teachers, peers, and especially cable news pundits.

Include analysis of the rhetoric of the Democratic Party’s Response to the President. Analysis includes but is not limited to: setting, tone, diction, targets of address, calls to action, anecdotes, dress and body language, and other rhetorical strategies & differences from that of President Trump.

Include analysis of those in attendance at the President’s Address: their reactions, their responses, interruptions, and the camera’s focus and point of view, pauses for applause, etc.

This section includes, but is not limited to, rhetorical analysis of the following: tone, diction, targets of address, calls to action, anecdotes, the president’s dress and body language, and other rhetorical strategies.