Bruce Swift-Spicer

1 February 2016
Ms. Gail Richard
Composition II
Rough Draft
Buildings collapsing, fires burning, ash descending, and families screaming. These terrors
are what you expect during a terrorist attack. On September 11, 2001, four planes were flown
into the twin towers of the World Trade Center causing a great deal of destruction , sorrow, and
pain. A third plane hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C and the last plane was driven into a field
in Pennsylvania. On the same day, George W. Bush announced an Address to the Nation to try to
mend into the hearts of lost love ones and to people in need. In Bushs Address, there is a great
use of the rhetorical appeals especially pathos. The pathos, the emotional claim, is utilized by the
author to inflict emotion into the audience and to better acquire their attention. The Audience that
Bush was speaking to was all of America mainly in New York City, Washington D.C, and
Pennsylvania. The purpose of this address was to inform all of the U.S of what occurred in these
cities and states. Apprising people of the great tragedy in the Address. Ethos, Pathos, Logos,
Audience, Purpose, and Genre are all located in George Bush Address to the Nation. All of these
rhetorical devices help the speaker state his points about tragedy to the nation on 9/11. Ethos,
which is the ethical appeal, is utilized in the Address by the author to elaborate on establishing
authority and credibility. A quote that explains the speaker's use of credibility is an actual vercer
from the bible stating, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no
evil for you are with me. Bush used this quote in his Address to give some type of confidence to

the U.S. This quote was taken from Psalm 23. He puts this quote to use by stating that the U.S.
was hit hard but the enemies will be hit even harder from a higher authoritative power. Another
quote stating Bushs use of ethos states, Immediately following the first attack, I implemented
our governments emergency response plans. This quote is another use of establishing
credibility in the Address. Bush is relating to another higher power, the government. The author
speaks about the government as another high power. The government is the backbone that holds
the U.S. together. Logos is also utilized in the Address. Logos is use of using facts and examples.
In the Address, Bush states, Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of
terror. This quote is a fact of one of the many problems that happened during 9/11. This quote
can also be viewed as a statistic. Another quote that exemplifies logos states, America has stood
down enemies before, and we will do so this time. This quote demonstrates an example of how
strong our government is and how this attack will hold down the U.S. Pathos, the rhetorical
appeal involving the use of emotion. A quote demonstrating this use of emotion states, These
acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have
failed. Our country is strong. This quote exemplifies a very strong use of emotion to the U.S.
elaborating on the murders to frighten our country. Bush reinforces this quote by stating how
independent our country is. Another quote exemplifying pathos in the Address states, Terrorist
attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation
of America. Emotion is utilized immensely in this quote elaborating on the effect of the
feelings on the U.S. and its citizens. Bush is saying that the enemy can attack destroy our
community but they will never stop the people. The Audience of Bushs Address is the U.S. Even
though the event occurred at the World Trade Center, the whole U.S. was victim to the tragedy.
The Purpose of the the Address, was to inform other citizens of the U.S. what happened and to

bring comfort to those whose family members have been lost during the terrorist attacks. The
genre of this Address is more of a informative or persuasive writing. The way Bush elaborates on
informing the Audience of what happened shows that the Address was informative but he also
persuades the audience to be strong and confident. That nobody can ever break the U.S or its
citizens. The 9/11 terrorist attack was a devastating event that nobody will ever forget. The fires,
ash, building collapses and people crying in fear all hit the U.S. hard. Bush wanted to inform the
U.S that this is just a setback and that we will overcome all hurt, harm, and danger. That we will
continue to become the strongest country in the world. We have a higher power watching over
our country and leading us to a victory.

Works Cited
www.911memorial.org/ www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks