This study intended to analyze Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s presidential inaugural speech as the first
female president in African to see how she persuaded and convinced the people of Liberia on
political, social and economic policies in an effort to make them believe in her content to
consolidate power. Specifically, this study focused on rhetorical and persuasive strategies she
applied in her speech. To achieve the intended goals, rhetorical discourse analysis methodology
was used, and Ellen’s textual inaugural presidential speech was quantitatively analyzed by both
Neo-Aristotelian and feminist methods of rhetorical analysis to discover, identify and describe
how Ellen used rhetorical devices, rhetorical appeals and other rhetorical tactics. Results indicate
that various rhetorical tactics were found in her speech, and were well applied which helped her
to effectively accomplish her intended objectives as an orator.
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