Group 1

ABESAMIS, Keane Lorenzo Speech 30 THX-3

AGAGUA, Van Emmanuelle Kristienne Module 3 & 4
APURA, Eliazar John Integrated Assessment
BAAY, Ronan November 7, 2023

Group Discussion Documentation:

1. How did Denzel and JCS express their ideas effectively?

Denzel Washington
With his stint in Hollywood films, Denzel Washington has made a name for himself
across the globe. His recognizable face, voice, demeanor, and stature as a movie star,
which need not be stated, are enough to catch the attention of audiences. He employs a
few techniques to effectively communicate his ideas, and he organizes and emphasizes
his points to get his point across.

The way he organizes his speech is that he numbers his points, which establishes order
such as, “Number one, put God first… number two, fail big…” He emphasizes his points
by repeating them, and in these repetitions, he either says them louder or slower. In this
manner, the audience is less likely to misunderstand or miss the point entirely. It also
helps that his numbered points are short sentences using simple words. Hence, they
are easy to remember and easy to repeatedly say. He also enunciates and stresses
words and phrases which support his idea.
He also uses literary devices which make his speech entertaining and, to some degree,
more trustworthy. He rhymes to drive a point like when he said, “I’ve been protected,
I’ve been directed, I’ve been corrected,” to express the reason why we need to put God
first. He uses oxymorons such as, “Fail big,” to make the audience question and think
deeply until he explains its meaning. He uses imagery to express a concept, like putting
together a U-haul dragged by a hearse to express that you cannot take material objects
in the afterlife. He plays with his listeners’ imagination.

Jaime Cardinal Sin

Throughout the Marcos regime and beyond, Cardinal Sin cemented himself as a visible
public figure and could be regarded as a household name. His greatest and most
effective instrument was his ethos, his outstanding credibility as the Archbishop of
Manila. Since the Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, the Cardinal had no
trouble amassing an audience. His post afforded him authority and influence, not to
mention some security from threats coming from political powers. Thus, the former
Archbishop of Manila could speak to the Catholic Philippines about the ills of society as
long as he was careful not to toe the line too much. Cardinal Sin employed the strategy
of “critical collaboration” in his rhetorics. He would critique the government, but he did
not harbor any separatist or abolitionist sentiments. He did not seek to be an enemy of
the state, but instead positioned himself as a voice of counsel for both the government
and the masses. This allowed him to play within safe bounds while being an agent of
reform.

2. How did they use public speaking as a vehicle of transformation?

Denzel Washington
Using his wisdom accumulated from his personal experiences, Washington speaks in
front of the youth to motivate, inspire, reform, and improve their outlook on life. He
relates to them by humbling himself at the beginning, talking about how he dropped out
of school, but with hard work, determination, and a great character, he overcame his
failures.
In Washington’s speech, he addressed personal struggles and issues that can be
reformed through self-determination, discipline, and consistency. This allows his speech
to become not just personal to him and his attendees, but universal to everyone who
can hear it. His speech on spirituality, perseverance, and altruism applies to all those
who have access to this piece.

Jaime Cardinal Sin

Jaime Cardinal Sin was an instrumental force of change during one of the darkest times
in Philippine history. In his speeches, he addressed specific issues that Philippine
society was experiencing at the time. Cardinal Sin was largely guided by Catholic
morals and doctrine and spoke to an audience that was predominantly Catholic. Thus, it
can be said that he sought to transform society through Catholic values and teachings.
The cardinal was a source of moral guidance and preached a “Gospel of love” calling
for peace, unity, goodwill, justice, and positive change. Although he strongly identified
himself as a man of the Church, he was not afraid to speak about affairs that involved
the State. Even political events had moral implications, and Sin took the opportunity to
denounce the wrongs in society. His most impactful contribution was becoming “the
Cardinal of the Revolution” and calling the Filipino people to the first EDSA Revolution.
His message of love triumphed when they had accomplished a mostly peaceful protest
and demonstration of dissent against the Marcos dictatorship.

3. Describe the Ethos, pathos, and Logos used that strengthened their speech.

Denzel Washington
Ethos
Denzel Washington established his ethos, or credibility, in his "Put God First" speech by
using his personal experiences and insights to illustrate his points. He also spoke about
his faith in God and how it has guided him throughout his life.

For example, Washington shared a story about how he was once struggling with his
career and was considering giving up acting. However, he prayed to God for guidance
and received the strength to keep going. He eventually went on to become one of the
most successful actors in Hollywood.

Washington also cited the example of his parents, who were both hard-working and
devout Christians. He said that his parents taught him the importance of putting God
first and always treating others with respect.

Pathos
Washington used pathos, or emotion, to connect with his audience and motivate them to
action. He did this by sharing personal stories and anecdotes that evoked feelings of
hope, inspiration, and gratitude.

For example, Washington shared a story about how he was once at a low point in his
life. He had lost his job and was struggling to make ends meet. However, he never gave
up on his faith in God. He continued to pray and believed that things would get better.
Eventually, he found a new job and was able to get back on his feet.
Washington also spoke about the importance of being grateful for our blessings. He said
that even when we are going through difficult times, we should always be thankful for
what we have. He also encouraged his audience to help others and to make a
difference in the world.

Logos
Washington also used logos, or logic, to support his arguments. He cited statistics and
examples from his own life to illustrate how putting God first can lead to success and
fulfillment.

For example, Washington cited a study that showed that religious people are more likely
to be successful in their careers and have happier relationships. He also spoke about
his own experiences, sharing how putting God first has helped him to achieve his goals
and live a fulfilling life.

Jaime Cardinal Sin

Ethos
As previously mentioned, his greatest asset was his credibility as the Archbishop of
Manila. Beyond his position, Cardinal Sin also made himself known as an outspoken
public figure. As a leader of the Catholic Church, the Archbishop had the moral authority
to speak out against societal issues, specifically those that go against Catholic teaching
and doctrine.

Pathos
As a spiritual leader, Cardinal Sin often sought to incite positive feelings and values
from his audience. In his speeches, he would invite the people to be compassionate,
altruistic, peaceful, hopeful, and optimistic. His appeal to positive emotions was
consistent with his role as a messenger of the Catholic Church.

Logos
In his speech regarding the showing of pornography in the Metro Manila Film Festival,
Cardinal Sin made a logical argument: that a Christian nation must exemplify Christian
teachings. Other times, Cardinal Sin cited specific injustices happening in the
Philippines. Among these are electoral fraud, graft and corruption, killings, the violation
of human rights, and the lack of press freedom.

4. What literary devices did they use in elaborating on his main points?
(Refer back to your readings in the module)
Denzel Washington
In his speech, Washington employs several literary devices to convey a powerful and
cohesive message. He uses metaphors to liken life's journey to the guidance of a
compass, emphasizing the importance of placing God at the forefront of our lives, just
as a compass navigates through challenging terrain. He extends this metaphor to
compare putting God first to planting a seed in fertile soil, highlighting the blessings that
come from prioritizing our spiritual well-being.

Furthermore, simile is employed as Washington draws a parallel between putting on

one's oxygen mask first in an emergency and prioritizing God in one's life. He stresses
the significance of self-care in a spiritual context, mirroring the need to secure one's
oxygen mask before assisting others during a crisis.

Repetition plays a pivotal role in his speech, with the frequent recurrence of the
phrases "put God first" and "dream big" reinforcing his central themes. He aims to
engrain in the audience the idea that prioritizing God is fundamental to achieving a
successful and fulfilling life and encourages them to pursue their aspirations with faith
and determination.

Washington also employs rhetorical questions to challenge his listeners to

contemplate the purpose of life and the true definition of success. He asserts that life's
purpose lies in glorifying God and serving others, while genuine success transcends
mere wealth and fame, focusing instead on leading a life pleasing to God and making a
positive impact in the world.

Furthermore, he employs anaphora, tricolon, and alliteration to create a rhythmic and

emphatic cadence in his speech. This repetition of sounds and phrases adds resonance
and emphasis to his message. For example, in the sentence, "When I was struggling
with my career, I prayed to God for guidance. He gave me the strength to keep going,
and I eventually became one of the most successful actors in Hollywood," anaphora is
evident in the repetition of "I," while tricolon is present in the sequence "Dream big.
Believe. Pray." Additionally, alliteration enhances the impact in sentences such as "Put
God first. Pursue your dreams with passion and purpose."

Jaime Cardinal Sin

One of the ways that Jaime Cardinal Sin made his speeches so effective was through
his use of literary devices. He frequently used similes and metaphors to compare and
contrast ideas, creating vivid and memorable images for his audience. For example, he
compared the Filipino people to a "river of freedom that cannot be stopped" and a
"phoenix that will rise from the ashes of oppression." These comparisons helped to
inspire and motivate, and they also served to highlight the strength and resilience of the
Filipino people.

Another literary device that Sin used was parallelism. Parallelism is the repetition of a
grammatical structure or pattern of words to create emphasis and rhythm. For example,
in his speech during the 1986 EDSA Revolution, he said: "We are gathered here today
to stand up for our freedom, for our democracy, and our future." The repetition of the
prepositional phrase "for our" in this sentence creates a sense of rhythm and flow, and it
also emphasizes the three important things that the Filipino people were fighting for.

Sin also used tricolon, which is the grouping of three related ideas or phrases. Tricolon
can be used to create emphasis and impact, and Sin was a master of using it in his
speeches. For example, in his speech during the 1986 EDSA Revolution, he said: "We
will not be cowed by fear, by intimidation, or by violence." The grouping of these three
words creates a sense of strength and determination, and it conveys the message that
the Filipino people would not be stopped in their fight for freedom.

Anaphora, or the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of multiple sentences,

was another literary device that Sin often used. Anaphora can be used to create a
sense of rhythm and emphasis, and Sin was skilled at using it to make his points more
forcefully. For example, in his speech during the 1986 EDSA Revolution, he said: "We
are the people. We have the power. We will prevail." The repetition of the word "we" in
this passage emphasizes the unity and strength of the Filipino people, and it also
conveys the message that they were ultimately in control of their destiny.

Finally, Sin also used rhetorical questions and anecdotes in his speeches. Rhetorical
questions are questions that are not meant to be answered, but rather to make the
audience think more deeply about the speaker's message. Anecdotes are short stories
that are used to illustrate a point or make a connection with the audience. Sin used both
of these devices effectively in his speeches to engage his audience and make his
message more relatable.

5. How do the speaker’s personal qualities (voice modulation, intonation, credibility,

etc.) influence the effectiveness of the speech?

Denzel Washington
Being a public figure and a veteran actor, Denzel Washington established his credibility
and authority early on, even before he started his speech. Having a speaker with much
success and experience earns the audience's trust and respect, amplifying the
message's impact and making it more meaningful.
Washington delivered his speech with varied expressions of emotion. He had a
well-modulated tone and intonations that portrayed the contrast of emotions in his
words, evoking the passion and conviction he wished to emphasize in his message.
Moreover, his approach to emotion did not provoke weakness; instead, he exuded the
openness of being vulnerable to emotions. The confidence of Washington in expressing
such an emotional message motivated and inspired the graduates to work hard and
pursue their goals.

Jaime Cardinal Sin

Jaime Cardinal Sin's personal qualities greatly enhanced the effectiveness of his
speeches. His unwavering commitment to justice, coupled with his esteemed moral
authority, lent weight to his words. He was not just a speaker but a revered leader
known for championing social justice and democracy. This credibility made his
messages more impactful, as his audience believed in his integrity. Furthermore,
Cardinal Sin's empathetic nature allowed him to connect on a human level with the
people he addressed. He shared relatable anecdotes and stories, fostering an
emotional bond with his audience. In addition, his fearless approach was evident in his
readiness to confront political powers and speak against oppression. His courage
served as an inspiration to his listeners, demonstrating that one person could effect
significant change by challenging the prevailing norms.

6. Was/were the speech/expressions successful in motivating you to change the

world?

Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington’s speech had a lot of quotable statements that were kept short but
had an impactful message. One notable quotation, “Don’t confuse movement with
progress,” serves as a reminder and motivation for us to pace ourselves with what we
can do; not because we think we are doing more does not mean we are gaining more.
Washington’s approach to motivating through a vague set of words that weighed heavy
on meaning was a successful way of inspiring his audience.

Furthermore, his speech revolves around gratitude and contentment. Washington

emphasizes that being grateful for what we have pushes us to achieve more meaningful
goals other than materialistic things, encouraging us to create meaningful change not
only for ourselves but also for others. He inspires us to be content with what we can
achieve but not to underestimate the success we can have by working hard.
Our success is important; however, we must also remember that there is success in
helping others succeed. We must not only aspire to change ourselves, but also we must
aspire to create change in the world; as Washington mentions in his speech, “It is not
about how much you have, it is about how much you can do with what you have.”

Jaime Cardinal Sin

It was because of his rhetoric that it was inspiring to offer a good change to the world.
We were motivated by his commitment to ensuring that any issues related to justice and
safety among Filipinos must be well addressed. It felt as if he could feel us in a crowd –
as if we were all part of a single worldwide crusade for goodwill. Instead of using high
jargon language, he used anecdotes and metaphors that were relevant and made
complex issues more understandable.

Moreover, Cardinal Sin did not only talk about the issues but also highlighted the
importance of taking action. He reminds us always that someone can't be calm while
there is injustice being exercised on others around them. It is our role as members of
society to take an active part in the process of transformation.

For my part, I got an inspiration by his talk and felt obliged to it. He proved to us that
even one man with integrity can have an impact on the world. It is through this
experience that taught us that we all have a part to play towards a fairer and just world
for all people.