President Obama, in his 2013 State of the Union address, describes how issues related to education, job creation, new technologies and environmentalism are crucial for the growth and development of our economy. Its goal is to urge Members of Congress and Americans to help reform our government to ensure that those who work hard can succeed. Speaking in an authoritative voice, he persuades his audience that even though things are better than before, changes still need to be made to continue to improve the American way of life. Obama begins by acknowledging that progress has been made. There are “six million new jobs…we are buying more American cars than in five years, and less foreign oil than in 20” (Obama). His assurances suggest that the US economy is recovering and making great progress in recovering from the recession. This starts things in a positive direction and inspires pride that our nation is on the path to economic recovery. He then explains that “the hard work and dedication of many Americans has yet to be rewarded” (Obama), because many Americans cannot access full-time employment. It highlights the fact that those in the highest income bracket enjoy the highest profits, while the lowest incomes have not increased much in more than a decade. This appeals to the working class who find it unfair that their hard work is not rewarded. Obama appeals to the audience's character by asking a list of questions. “Every day we should ask ourselves three questions as a nation: How can we attract more jobs to our shores? How can we equip our citizens with the skills they need to get these jobs? And how can we ensure that hard work leads to a decent life? (Observed...... middle of article ...... for our youngest children, like Georgia or Oklahoma, studies show that students grow up more likely to read and do math in education, obtain a high school diploma, hold a job, form their own more stable families" (Obama goes on to encourage high schools to include programs that ensure that high school graduates receive a "diploma." "high school and an associate's degree in computer science or engineering" (Obama) graduates into a good job right out of high school, which is tempting for those who can't afford higher education. Using a combination of ethos and pathos, Obama was able to instill in his audience the importance that education, technology, job creation and being more environmentally conscious must contribute to. our economic future. Works Cited Obama, Barack H. "The 2013 State of the Union Address", The White House Np, February 13, 2013. Web November 12.. 2013.