Instruction
Watch Barbara Bush’s “Choices and Change” speech given at Wellesley College, June 1, 1990.
https://youtu.be/iRHup-Gj-GU
Mrs. Bush’s commencement speech at Wellesley College is an excellent study in audience analysis and adaptation. The choice of Bush as speaker touched off a protest among roughly one-quarter of Wellesley’s graduating seniors. The protest in turn sparked a national controversy involving students, educators, politicians, and newspaper editorialists. When Bush rose to speak, she faced an immediate audience that had been polarized by the controversy and many members of which were skeptical, some even hostile, to her appearance at Wellesley.
In developing your reaction to the speech, make sure to bring in the concepts and ideas discussed throughout the text so far, but specifically Analyzing the Audience. The reaction paper will be assessed in terms of: (1) how well you integrate course concepts into your reaction, (2) the insightfulness of your analysis, and (3) the quality of the writing. Make sure to proofread your work, checking the accuracy of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
While you are watching the speech, jot down notes regarding Mrs. Bush’s performance. After the speech, review your notes and then ask yourself some of these questions:
How do you feel about what the Mrs. Bush said?
Who was the audience the Mrs. Bush was speaking to? Can you describe them?
In your opinion, did Mrs. Bush meet the expectations for the speech? The college’s?
How do you feel Mrs. Bush successfully addressed the DEMOGRAPHIC and SITUATIONAL audiences for this speech?
Do you feel Mrs. Bush successfully adjusted her topic, purpose, language and communication style for this speech/audience? Support your answer with relevant examples.
Your answers to the questions above will compose the majority of your paper. The format should be: 3 pages, double-spaced, 12pt font.