Rhetorical Analysis-Argument Claims: Vivek’s Powerful & Awesome Speech Rhetoric #2

Join me as I perform an argumentation and rhetorical analysis on one of Vivek Ramaswamy’s 2024 GOP candidate speeches. Whether you’re a fan of Mr. Ramaswamy’s policy vision or not, it’s clear that Ramaswamy is an exceptional critical thinker and rhetorician. This series breaks down the rhetorical analysis into a series of posts:

• #1: Rhetorical Analysis – Thesis & Line of Reasoning
• #2: Rhetorical Analysis – Claims: Vivek’s Powerful & Awesome Speech Rhetoric (this post!)
• #3: Rhetorical Analysis – Ethos Pathos Logos: Vivek’s Powerful & Awesome Speech Rhetoric
• #4: Rhetorical Analysis – Devices: Vivek’s Powerful & Awesome Speech Rhetoric
• #5: Rhetorical Analysis – Data Insights: Vivek’s Powerful & Awesome Speech Rhetoric
• #6: Rhetorical Analysis – Counterargument: Vivek’s Powerful & Awesome Speech Rhetoric

Subject Analysis Details

• Speech: 2023 Faith & Freedom Coalition
• Speaker/Speechwriter: Vivek Ramaswamy
• Campaign Slogan: Truth
• Date of speech: 06/23/2023
• Speech Length: 14 minutes
• Rhetoric Type: Constitutive Rhetoric
  • provide a collective identity for an addressed audience
  • construct the audience as a subject in history; justifying their identity across time
  • demand that subjects act in accordance/take action with their identity as enacted in history

Rhetorical Situation

• Exigence: Driven by a concern for the changing cultural landscape in America, especially among the younger generation. It reflects a perceived erosion of traditional values and the search for a unifying American identity. Ramaswamy believes that addressing these challenges is crucial to the future of the nation. Moreover, his political aspirations and vision for the presidency are entwined with this exigence, making it a central theme of his speech.
• Audience: Faith & Freedom Coalition
• Purpose:
  • To advocate for a renewed sense of purpose and meaning in American society.
  • To persuade the audience, particularly the conservative base, of the speaker’s vision and political agenda.
  • To gain support for his candidacy for the U.S. presidency as a Republican.

Argument Claims – Definitions

• Policy Claim – advocate for a specific course of action or change in a current policy.
  • example: The government should increase funding for renewable energy research.
• Value Claim – express a judgment about the worth or importance of something, often based on personal beliefs or ethical principles.
  • example: Human life is sacred and should be protected.
• Fact Claim – assert the existence or truth of something and can be tested by examining evidence.
  • example: The Earth revolves around the sun.
    • Empirical Fact Claim – based on observation, experience, or data
    • Theoretical Fact Claim – based on ideas, logic, and reasoning; a theory that has yet to be proven or disproven

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Argument Claims Map

I updated the existing argument map that I used to develop and organize the line of reasoning. I did this by tagging each claim in argument map with one of the following tags:

• FE = Empirical Fact Claim
• FT = Theoretical Fact Claim
• P = Policy Claim
• V = Value Claim

I find this tag structure provides good insight to better understand and provide counterarguments. The type of claim informs me what course of action makes sense to initiate a counterargument. For example, an FE claim can simply be verified, while an FT claim can be countered. I’ll explore this idea more in the counterargument step of the rhetorical speech modeling process.

Argument Claims Quiz

Wait!! Before reading any further I welcome you to try this short quiz to test your argument claim skills. What could be more fun? That was a rhetorical question. Nothing could be more fun. Take the Quiz.

Argument Claims – Fact, Policy & Value

Vivek Ramaswamy’s speech effectively utilizes the three core argument claims—fact, policy, and value—to craft a persuasive narrative that resonates deeply with his audience. By strategically blending these claims, Ramaswamy builds a compelling case for his vision of America’s future.

Argument Claims of Fact

Ramaswamy uses empirical fact claims effectively within the Establish Identity line of reasoning by referencing his relevant and impressive past experiences that motivated him to aspire to reviving the American Dream. The combination of these fact claims builds ethos with the audience by establishing his belief in the American Dream. He accomplishes this by using fact claims to explain how the American Dream inspired him to become a successful business man. He then continues to explain how the American Dream inspired him to then step down from his CEO role to enter politics to help revive the American Dream.

Ramaswamy uses theoretical fact claims creatively within the Identify Issues line of reasoning by crafting logical arguments that correlate the rise of societal issues with the decline of traditional American values and ideals. This creates a cause and effect argument that supports the primary claim/thesis of his argument. The following theoretical fact claims encapsulate the premise within the Identify Issues line of reasoning:

We have celebrated our diversity and our differences so much that we’ve forgotten all of the ways we are really just the same as Americans – bound by that common set of ideals, bound by the truth that this nation was founded on. Our diversity can be a beautiful thing, but it is meaningless if there’s nothing greater that unites us across that diversity.

Ramaswamy establishes a solid foundation by presenting factual claims that highlight pressing societal issues. He references specific data points, such as the declining sense of patriotism among Generation Z, to emphasize the gravity of the current situation. For example, he notes that “less than 15 percent of Gen Z say they’re proud to be an American.” By grounding his arguments in verifiable truths, Ramaswamy ensures his audience understands the reality of the challenges facing the nation, setting the stage for his proposed solutions.

Argument Claims of Policy

Unlike a more traditional political speech, Ramaswamy uses policy claims primarily to restore traditional values and ideals. The majority of his calls to action involve the change needed to counter progressive-related social issues. Ramaswamy’s speech also contains policy claims that advocate for concrete actions to address the identified issues. He calls for the abolition of affirmative action in college admissions and the use of the military to secure the southern border. These policy recommendations provide clear, actionable solutions, appealing to the audience’s desire for practical and immediate measures. Additionally, Ramaswamy suggests reducing the power of the administrative state, arguing that elected officials should govern rather than unelected bureaucrats. These policy claims resonate with the audience’s frustration with the current system and their desire for more transparent and accountable governance.

Argument Claims of Value

Central to Ramaswamy’s speech are argument claims of value, which express judgments about the importance of core American values and ideals. He emphasizes ideals like meritocracy, hard work, and individual freedom, asserting that these values are foundational to the American Dream. Ramaswamy critiques contemporary cultural trends such as “wokism” and “globalism,” suggesting that these ideologies undermine traditional American values. By championing these principles and contrasting them with negative cultural influences, Ramaswamy appeals to his audience’s sense of morality and ethics, reinforcing the importance of these values in shaping the nation’s future. The majority of his value claims correlate to his recurring rhetorical question:

What does it mean to be an American?

In summary, Ramaswamy’s speech effectively uses argument claims of fact, policy, and value to construct a persuasive and impactful message. By addressing societal issues, proposing actionable solutions, and upholding core American values, Ramaswamy creates a compelling vision for America’s future.

Rhetorical Data Analysis – Argument Claims

Some of the observations and data insights I thought were worth noting from the argument claims data analysis. I included the argument claims data dashboard below this table. Play around with the data and let me know in my YouTube comments if I missed anything of interest.

#	Rhetorical Data Analysis	Commentary
1	Pretty even data distribution of the 3 claim types throughout the entire speech: Value = 41%, Fact = 32%, Policy = 27%	I think this even distribution between the argument claims equates to a well balanced speech. A high percentage of value claims makes sense for constitutive rhetoric. Value claims correlate to the Connect Values line of reasoning.
2	Establish Identity line of reasoning is primarily in the intro and is 100% empirical fact claims	This makes sense as Vivek Ramaswamy provides personal historical facts to establish his identity and build ethos with his audience.
3	Present Policy line of reasoning is primarily in the body and is 100% policy claims	This observation makes sense due to the 1:1 correlation between policy claims and the Present Policy line of reasoning.
4	Identify Issues line of reasoning is primarily in the body and has all 3 claim types with a perfect balance of 42% value and 42% theoretical fact claims	This balance between the value and fact claims shows the establishment of logic-based cause and effect claims.
5	Connect Values line of reasoning is primarily in the body and consists of mostly value claims at 82%	This observation makes sense as Vivek Ramaswamy uses religious conservative value claims to connect with his audience and connect his audience to his vision.

Rhetorical Data Analysis Dashboard – Argument Claims

• Use the Full Screen icon in the bottom right to expand the dashboard
• Use the bar or pie chart to filter by Appeal Type
• Use the Line of Reasoning to filter by Line of Reasoning
• To view the sub-fact claim types, right-click on either chart and select Drill down

Rhetorical Analysis – Arrangement Summary

• Speech Opening
  • Vivek Ramaswamy begins by expressing gratitude and acknowledging the importance of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
  • He shares his personal journey, from being the child of Indian immigrants to becoming the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company.
  • He sets the stage for discussing a “cultural cancer” that threatens the dream Martin Luther King talked about.
• Decline of Traditional American Values
  • Vivek Ramaswamy is concerned about the decline of traditional American values, such as faith, patriotism, hard work, and family. These values have historically been seen as central to the American identity.
  • This decline is seen as a cultural crisis that threatens the moral fabric of the nation.
• Identity Crisis and Lack of Unity
  • The younger generation, represented by the speaker as a millennial, is described as experiencing an identity crisis.
  • There is a perceived lack of a unifying American identity that transcends diversity and differences.
  • Vivek Ramaswamy sees this as contributing to societal issues and a sense of purposelessness.
• Political and Societal Issues
  • The speech alludes to a range of political and social issues, such as affirmative action, border security, and dependence on foreign nations (specifically, the Chinese Communist Party).
  • Vivek Ramaswamy presents these issues as problems that require attention and solutions.
• Preservation of American Values
  • The overarching exigence is the preservation of what Vivek Ramaswamy views as core American values and principles, such as meritocracy, the rule of law, and the pursuit of truth.
  • Vivek Ramaswamy is calling for action to protect and restore these values.
• Speech Conclusion
  • Vivek Ramaswamy concludes by emphasizing the potential for America’s ascent and the need for collective effort to preserve the American dream.