In this paper, we present a comparative study of Obama's closing statements in the presidential debates, in particular, the first and third debates with Mitt Romney in 2012. Obama was considered to have done poorl...In this paper, we present a comparative study of Obama's closing statements in the presidential debates, in particular, the first and third debates with Mitt Romney in 2012. Obama was considered to have done poorly in the first debate, but very well in the third debate. A systemic-functional analysis of Obama's closing statements in these two debates reveals the lexicogrammatical and rhetorical choices which contribute to the functional and aesthetic value of Obama's debate performance.展开更多
文摘In this paper, we present a comparative study of Obama's closing statements in the presidential debates, in particular, the first and third debates with Mitt Romney in 2012. Obama was considered to have done poorly in the first debate, but very well in the third debate. A systemic-functional analysis of Obama's closing statements in these two debates reveals the lexicogrammatical and rhetorical choices which contribute to the functional and aesthetic value of Obama's debate performance.