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  • Essay / The elements of ethos, pathos and logos in Steve Jobs' speech at Stanford

    Analyzing Steve Job's 2005 Stanford commencement speech, it is evident that he delivered a groundbreaking speech that wowed the audience. This speech was exceptionally powerful because of the way he examined his audience and used what they already knew about college culture using his experience as a former student. He knew the elements required for a presentation. However, more significantly, Steve Jobs spoke about something that could allow future alumni to explore this current reality. In Steve Job's speech at Stanford, the elements of Ethos, Pathos and Logos are very evident throughout. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The first element of rhetoric that Steve Job unknowingly covers is Ethos. Ethos emphasizes the credibility component. Questions that can be asked to meet the needs of Ethos include: Who gave this speech? Can I trust what the person says? With Steve Job being a prominent trusted figure giving the speech himself, this is the first example of ethos since he can be considered a reliable source. Not only that, but his speech revolves around his life story. No one knows their life better than the person who lives it. The second reference to ethos is evident when Steve Jobs talks about dropping out of college, not getting a degree, and taking the first steps toward success. The uniqueness of Jobs' proposal lies in discussing the necessary steps he took to succeed, as he is not credible when it comes to talking about college. These “steps” can be considered credible coming from a very successful entrepreneur. The validity of Jobs' contemplations rests on introducing the foundations of his life and encounters to support his thoughts. Sharing one's difficulties constitutes not only the support of ethos, but also an argument of pathos. Steve talks about how he was laid off from the company he owned. It was the second story of the three he told. There is a clear indication of disappointment. Any audience of any kind can be disappointed. By sharing their story, the audience feels a sense of connection. They remember the feelings he probably had when he lost the company he had worked so hard to build. In Jobs' last story, he talks about how he was about to die. He recounts how doctors diagnosed him with a type of cancer that was almost certainly incurable. This generates another argument for pathos and brings emotions into play. Since most people know someone who has cancer or have had cancer, this certainly affects us. While trying to demonstrate why life is so precious and uncertain, he connects not only with himself, but also with his audience to evoke emotions. Although logos are proven by statistics and facts, there is no clear evidence of any type of statistics in Steve Job's Stanford study. Address speech. Jobs' speech is more of a life story. Even though there are no statistics, Jobs pointed out some obvious facts. For example, he said: “Death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it.” This fact is known to humanity. It is a reality that every individual will one day face. Everyone's time will come and they will no longer be on this earth. The reason he brought up this topic is that people often live their lives in.