Analyse af Steve Jobs' Stanford tale

An analysis of Steve Jobs’ Commencement address, Stanford University, June 12, 2005 ‘You’ve got to find what you love’

The Steve Jobs commencement speech at Stanford University is a great speech that mixes non-public narratives, insightful reflections, and a call to action for graduating college students. Through reading the speech through the perspective of the rhetorical pentagram, which includes the elements of speaker target, audience message, delivery, and context. We are able to gain a deeper understanding of Jobs persuasive techniques.

The speaker is Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc. His credibility is established through his outstanding success and achievements on a global scale. His popularity as a college dropout who later developed the industry provides a layer of relatability and authenticity to his speech. This authenticity is a rhetorical tool that connects with the audience, especially graduating college students who may be unsure about their future paths. The graduating class of Stanford College is a diverse group with various backgrounds and goals.

Jobs acknowledges the privilege of speaking at one of the greatest universities in the world and establishes a connection with the aid of sharing his personal studies of losing out on college and later achieving fulfillment. This connection allows Jobs to set up an ethos, creating a bridge between his own journey and the ability paths the graduates may take with the message of Jobs. The speech revolves around three moments from his lifestyles, each wearing a distinct lesson. The first story, approximately connecting the dots, emphasizes the importance of trusting one's instincts and the perception that so-called unrelated studies may shape one's future. This narrative is an effective use of pathos, appealing to the feelings of the target market by recounting his own journey of losing out, dealing with demanding situations, and eventually succeeding.