AP English Language and Composition

Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis (2018)

Sample Student Responses

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Sample H

[1] We have come a long way since women gained voting rights. Yet we have not gone

these graduates that they must continue to fight for rights in the face of opposition, and that

they will succeed.

[2] Albright begins by presenting her audience with America’s accomplishments and

continued work in this growing world. She states the past, “the Belin Wall is now a memory”,

then a hypothetical, “We could be satisfied with that,” and then America’s continued work,

“creating a future” and building world peace. This powerful form of presenting what has been

accomplished then a hypothetical paired with reality is a powerful way to allude to the idea

that accomplishing is not enough, we must never stop trying to get better. Without the

hypothetical, her statements engender awe and pride in her audience for the progress of

America wants. Albright wants her audience to understand that this continued effort is

about change. With this series of contrast between hypothetical and reality, the audience, a

class of women cannot help but nod their heads in understanding that this could them,

spearheading the continued struggle for gender equality in a relentless manner.

[3] Albright, having gotten the gears in the minds of the audience turning on what they

maybe can do regarding Women’s rights, follows up with a series of person anecdotes of what

women across the world are doing. Women in Sarajevo that she personally met are reaching

across ethnic lines. Women in Burundi reach out to prevent another Rwandan genocide.

Women in Guatemala; Burma. One might think that these examples serve a minor effect but in

fact these anecdotes are very powerful. Being the Secretary of State, Albright is an imposing

figure in the eyes of her audience and they know her anecdotes are stories of unforgettable

AP English Language and Composition

Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis (2018)

Sample Student Responses

2

tears, tears of joy and pride knowing that fellow women were standing up to injustices

and oppressed rising to make a difference, anecdotes that strike home within the hearts of the

women sitting and listening to Albright’s speech.

resistance, ridicule, distraction. Some will concede others will struggle onwards with

diminished fervor. Overcoming these roadblocks are tough but Albright pushes onward and

drills into the minds of these future activists that they must persevere. Ending each paragraph

with “and persevere” after speaking of all the opposition and taunts that they may face,

Albright successfully relates the idea of perseverance with opposition in the minds of the

graduates. Walking away from college, they will remember to persevere in the face of

opposition, that perseverance is the key to continued struggle. This link is solidified through

Albright’s repetition and there will be little opposition these graduates will not be able to

overcome in the future. In addition, she states “if you aim high enough”…before every

description of opposition as if she is challenging her audience to aim higher. This repitition of a

of opposition.

[5] Albright’s commencement speech successfully drives home the will to fight for

gender equality among her audience by showing them that they can always push harder, that

others are already in the fray, and that the path is hard and is a challenge that you may partake

in. And partake they will as they walk away from the ceremony ready to challenge societal

ideas and fight for gender equality among all walks of life.

AP English Language and Composition

Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis (2018)

Sample Student Responses

3

Sample F

[1] Madeline Albright’s commencement speech in 1997 at Mount Holyoke college came

around the world.

[2] Albright cites powerful stories of women fighting challenges they face to

demonstrate the power of perseverance. She discusses women in Sarajevo, who overcame

incredible grief to “rebuild their shattered society,” and Aung Saan Suu Kyi, a women in Burma

who “risks her life everyday to keep alive the hope for democracy in her country.” These

stories exemplify pathos, appeals to emotion, and support Albright’s core idea. At a time when

peace and prosperity spanned across America, it would have been easy for Americans to ignore

the challenges that many face and remain content with the current state of society. Albright

uses the stories of these women to illustrate how many problems still exist and to inspire her

audience into helping fight those problems. Even though the stories Albright tells come from

[3] Albright utilizes frequent repetition and a powerful tone to emphasize many of her

points even further. From lines 69 to 93, Albright ends each paragraph with the words “have

courage still and persevere.” She repeats these words to emphasize the need to continue

fighting for what you believe in even in the face of doubt and criticism. This is especially

applicable to Albright’s audience of female college graduates. Because of their youth, and

may face people who don’t take them seriously. Albright reiterates the need to push through

in face of these challenges. Albright herself, the first female secretary of state, faced many

challenges and doubts on her rise to the top of the state department but she maintained her

courage and persevered. Therefore, Albright’s background and story give the words “have

courage still – and persevere” a particularly powerful and sincere meaning. Albright ends the

passage with a powerful call to action that uses lofty, metaphorical language to inspire her

audience. She tells her audience that their passion can being down “barrier(s) to justice” and

AP English Language and Composition

Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis (2018)

Sample Student Responses

4

Berlin wall but that is instead improving NATO and promoting peace. The U.S. could be

constantly pushing forward. This extends from a discussion of political issues into a discussion

of issues faced by women. Albright argues that women should not settle for their current

women have to elevate their status around the world even further and the importance of never

settling through the stories of powerful women abroad, powerful diction, and references to

American efforts at even more progress. She hopes to inspire her audience to always have

courage – and persevere.

AP English Language and Composition

Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis (2018)

Sample Student Responses

5

Sample A

[1] In her 1997 commencement speech to Mount Holyoke College, Sectretary of State

[2] Albright starts her speech on a national and personal state, comparing how “they” as

individuals “must choose how to lead their life, to the larger America who “as a nation” must

choose “how to shape history.” Through parallel syntax, relating what she knows as Secretary

of State, to what her audience knows, as individuals. Albright continues her description of

America all the while in parallel syntax claiming that “We could be satisfied” or “We could

relax” or multiple more clauses each acompanied with a unifying “we,” to make her audience

feel like part of the discussion, as well as a clause claiming that “instead we are pursuing

broader prosperity” or “reviewing our commitment.” Albright’s echoing syntax rings out in the

manner of King’s “I have a dream” speech, each repetition relating her claims back to her

central statement of unity and opportunity, each ring drawing in her listeners.

[3] Now Albright transitions from America to women. She follows the same verse-

refrain form which at this point her audience has begun to chant on their heads. She described

women who “could now lower [their] voices” but “instead,” “[bump] against a glass ceiling” or

“[rise] from a dirt floor.” Albright has referenced the U.S., how it has refused to give in, and

how it has found prosperity, and now she reflects that structure onto women. Her audience

begins to believe that soon, if my con[ILLEGIBLE] to fight, they will reach prosperity.

must “persevere.” Through this quote and repetition, she has touched the hearts of her

listeners and cemented an idea, the idea of perseverance. She continues to offer examples of

hardships and that the listener must “persevere” to overcome them, in the same structure as

before: example, refrain, example, refrain. Her diction: “There is no doubt,” “It is certain,”

“Inevitebly” convents [sic] that she is an authority on the subject, so when she tells her

audience to “persevere,” they act without questioning.

[5] She closes her speech by telling her audience that they will face hardship, but they

will overcome. Even if at this point they don’t believe her, through her repetition they have

been classically conditioned much like Pavlov’s dog, to instantly think “persevere” whenever a

AP English Language and Composition

Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis (2018)

Sample Student Responses

6

hardship arises. And thus Albright has used rhetoric to inspire and protect a graduating class of

AP English Language and Composition

Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis (2018)

Sample Student Responses

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Sample D

[1] Madeleine Albright in her speech to a class of graduating women in college used

[2] Albright uses what occurred after important historical events to motivate the

audience to never settle for okay. She motivates them to use an event to strive for even better.

She uses the destruction of the Berlin Wall to prove that we learned to use the Berlin Wall to

help us in the present and future. People are now “striving to create a future for Europe” (lines

11-12) because of me Berlin Wall. As a nation, we have learned from past events to create a

better world for not only ourselves, but we also intend to create a better world for others.

Albright also uses the events of the U.S. being threatened by nuclear weapons to motivate the

audience to not settle for being okay, but using past events to prepare themselves for what

may happen in the future. She says that instead of being okay with no longer being a target, we

now “working to…ban nuclear explosions forever” (lines 16-20). The use of being threatened

by dangerous weapons motivates the audience to always look out for themselves. The

[3] Albright uses her experiences with women from other countries to motivate her

audience to fight for themselves and others. She mentions women that she has met in

Guatemela who fight to put “an end to discrimination and abuse” (line 68-69). Those women

fight for the discrimination and abuse to stop because it is an issue they face constantly. It

encourages the audience that they too are able to fight for themselves and face on any

obstacles. Albright also uses the women in Sarajevo to inspire the audience that they can take

some, rebuilding a society may seem impossible, but the women in Sarajevo still fight to have a

better society. Those women are mentioned in Albright’s speech to motivate her audience to

always fight for what may even seem impossible. They are encouraged to try and succeed in

anything they fight for. Albright uses women from countries who are struggling to encourage

her audience to fight for what they hope to achieve.

[4] Albright uses historical events and women from other countries to motivate her

audience to fight for themselves and all others. She hopes to inspire the graduating class of

AP English Language and Composition

Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis (2018)

Sample Student Responses

8

Sample I

[1] In 1997, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright gave a well-written, motivational

our backs now and risk renewed war…we could stop there…” (Albright). The use of “we could”

of the beginning of these sentences show the United States could stop what they are doing and

let whatever happens happen, but instead are continuing to lead the world toward peace and

equality.

[3] The author employs the use of allusions to give examples of the places around the

world that changing partly due to the influence and leadership of the United States. “The

fighting in Bosnia has stopped… In Burundi, I have seen women taking the lead in efforts to

avoid the fate of neighboring Rwanda… In Guatemala, … And in Burma, …” (Albright). The use

of these allusions shows the audience the global-scale effects the United State’s efforts are

having. The allusions also motivate the audience to continue to seek peace, prosperity, and

[4] The author incorporates a few significant metaphors into her speech, which have

significant effects. “…and explode outward the boundaries of what is achievable on this earth”

(Alright). This metaphor draws a comparison between the audience’s actions and the

boundaries of what is thought as achievable on this Earth. This motivates the audience to take

on global problems head-on and to not be intimidated by what others consider possible. The

metaphor shows the reader that even the smallest actions can bring about large amounts of

change.

employs the use of metaphors, parallel structure, and allusions to motivate the audience, push

them towards greatness, and show how the smallest of actions can change the world.

AP English Language and Composition

Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis (2018)

Sample Student Responses

9

Sample G

[1] Madeline Albright uses multiple convincing rhetorical devices to prove her point and

[2] Throughout the speech, Albright uses logos, the appeal to logic, to convey her

message to the audience. By reminding the audience that “Largely because of U.S. leadership,

nuclear weapons no longer target our homes.” She is stating a fact that may would agree with

and accept. Albright also points out in her speech that “fighting in Bosnia has stopped” to

present a logical approach on the positive impact the government has made on society. She

uses logos in her speech to present facts and evidence that is difficult to deny, and therefore, is

quite convincing.

who desire justice, and the emotions of those who know rape victims. Albright’s mention of

justice for rape victims probably largely influenced support for her cause and the governments

cause. Her mention of “those entrapped by poverty and descrimination was also likely to bring

passionate supporters to analyze her points. Albright uses pathos as a technique to convince

the audience that the government is doing its best and has made significant progress in helping

those who were victimized. Her use of pathos instills passion into the audience that helps her

to gain mass support.