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More essential viewing from Channel 4 News; Brexit explained: what happens when the UK leaves the EU?

February 06, 2019

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Rhetoric and imagery in President Obama’s inauguration speech

If the number of hits and emails are anything to go by, my earlier line-by-line analysis of rhetoric and imagery in Barack Obama’s victory speech in Chicago (originally published in the British weekly newspaper, the Independent on Sunday) attracted a good deal of interest.

In response to those who have asked for something similar on his inaugural address, here's the text of the speech with comments in italics just after the points to which they relate.

The earlier piece had some introductory background on the main rhetorical techniques. If you’re not familiar with them what follows might make more sense by looking here before reading on.

More detail on rhetorical techniques and imagery and how anyone can use them to get messages across effectively in any kind of speech or presentation can be found in my books (for details of which, see column on the left).

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us,
grateful for the trust you have bestowed,
mindful of the sa…

Two depressing sights/sites in Harare

About twenty years ago, I went to Zimbabwe to run a presentation skills course for an American company with branches in almost every country in Africa. One of their managers met me at Harare airport. When he asked "Is this your first time in Africa?", I said "Yes."

"Well just be thankful you've come to Zimbabwe, because they haven't had time to really mess things up yet. Most of the things you take for granted - like phones that work, banks with cash, buses and cabs more or less work - unlike in some of the other African countries where we work. That's why we all opt to hold our meetings here whenever we can."

In this 'popular; country, Mugabe and ZANU-PF had already been in power for quite a while, but they'd yet to set about the country's agriculture and currency was reasonably stable. It also had a flourishing tourist industry, with easy access to world famous sights like the Zambezi and Victoria Falls.

But there were two site…

Max Atkinson becomes an FAcSS

2 March 2016
Dear Dr Atkinson
Conferment of the Award of Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences
Following the recent nominations process, I an delighted to advise you that, by order of Council, the Award of Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) has been conferred on you for your contribution to social science. Congratulations on this significant achievement. I attach a list showing all the new Fellows conferred in the Spring 2016 round.
There is an opportunity to be welcomed formally to the Academy and to have your framed certificate presented to you by the president, Professor Sir Ivor Crewe FAcSS at the forthcoming AGM and annual lecture, which will be held on the afternoon of Thursday 30th June 2016 in London....
welcome to the Academy. I hope it will not be long before we see each other at one of our events. Look out for regularmreports on the latest news and events via out website, www.acss.org.uk and in our monthly eBulletin.
Yours sincerely
Stephen Anderson Execut…

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