AP English--Analysis Prompt for President Obama's Speech on the Death of bin Laden

After the Storm, Boris Kustodiev (1921)

Analyze President Obama's speech on the death of bin Laden.  Identify the President's purpose for delivering this speech and then explain how he effectively utilizes rhetorical devices to support and achieve his objective.

Consider the following sample thesis statement as a springboard for the writing of your own essay (A thesis statement can be more than one sentence):

"On September 11th, 2001, President Obama addressed the nation in a time of crisis--an attack upon American soil perpetrated by the terrorist group Al Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden.  In his speech, President Obama wanted to convey to America and to the world that America was a strong, resilient nation, and that the ideals we and other peace-loving democratic nations hold sacred would never be defeated by individuals who commit vicious acts of violence and mass murder."