Speech Anaylysis

Speaker: Joe Clark portrayed by Morgan Freeman in movie Lean On Me. 
Speech titled "Welcome to the New East Side High"
Thesis: The resurrection of a dead school
When and Where speech delivered: 
East Side High School Auditorium, beginning of the new school year, New Jersey
Intended Audience: Students and Faculty of East Side High School
Additional things to include: The students must pass basic skills exam to keep from having the school taken over by a the State government of New Jersey.
Tone of the speech: Joe Clark is very direct and lecturing towards the faculty and students of the school.
What would be needed to make this speech better? ( if needed ) Well I believe nothing would top this speech, which was very direct and precise. The motto he uses, "If you do not succeed in life, I don't want you to blame your parents. I don't want you to blame the white man! I want you to blame yourselves! The responsibility is yours!" is very strong and it tells the students that no one should be blamed but them for their failure. Very strong quote by Mr. Freeman. 
Do I agree with the speech's argument/subject? Yes, I do. What Joe Clark tells the students is that if they fail, and don't succeed, they will be locked out of dreams that they think is so easy to get and they must work for what they each want in order to succeed in life. 

Analysis of persuasive techniques:
ETHOS: Actor Morgan Freeman is a well distinguished actor, and performing this inspirational speech in the movie LEAN ON ME, as principal Joe Clark, has given persuasive techniques of his speech by explaining the hard truth and consequences to the young adults of East Side High School.


LOGOS: Through Joe Clark's speech, he exclaims to the students that if they do not pass the basic skills exam, they will be locked out of their dreams to succeed in life. 


PATHOS: The students are quiet and coherent towards their principal after he first removes the incorrigible delinquent student body from the state. The students in the audience at first applaud their dismissal, then sit quietly as Joe Clark delivers his powerful speech. The audience of the students and faculty is silence. 


Conclusion: In my opinion, this speech has always been a GREAT SPEECH. No other actor, besides Al Pacino from A SCENT OF A WOMAN, could pull this powerful, inspirational speech and that has captivated his audience than Morgan Freeman. The speech is memorable to many people that have watched the movie, and it delivers a performance that shows that with his words of wisdom, no one can succeed in life, unless they work for it and go after their dreams to success. 


Joe Clark has persuaded students that they must work for what they want, to be a success, to not blame anyone but themselves and to pass the minimum basic skills to achieve that goal. Persuasive indeed.