Abstract:This paper explores the rhetorical strategies of Donald Trump by studying his 2016 speech on illegal immigration in Phoenix. Using pentadic criticism, I analyze Trump’s speech to find out his rhetorical strategies applied in his speeches. Trump senses the outrage of border citizens towards illegal immigrants and then takes advantage of it in his speech. He attributes the audience’s horrible living conditions to illegal immigrants and elite policy maker, which resonates the inner mind of the listeners. Moreover, he stresses the purpose of his policy as “saving American lives, American jobs, and American futures” from the aspect of ordinary people. What’s more, this paper reveals his intention by decoding the pentadic structure of his speech. 

Key Words: illegal immigration, Donald Trump, domestic policy, rhetorical criticism 

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Background-2

Trump’s Speech in Phoenix on Illegal Immigration-4

Pentadic Criticism-5

How Does Trump Describe Hillary’s Immigration Policy-7

How Does Trump Describe His Own Immigration Policy-9

Rhetorical Choice and Audience Response-13

Conclusion-17

Acknowledgements-19

Bibliography-20