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An Analysis Of Nora Ephron's Speech

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The late and well established Nora Ephron was known for her work as a filmmaker/writer. Nora Ephron was also a strong advocate for women and was seen as a role model to young ladies as proven when she was chosen to conduct the commencement speech for the Wesley graduate class of 1996. Ephron was not the ideal Wesley student which is shown in her speech with sarcasm and small jokes. However, this helped set the tone and did not diminish the level of effectiveness in the speech. The speaker was able to create a bond with the women in the seats, as she once was in their same position with the same ambition and worries of the life beyond college. Inspiration and motivation is what helps the speech progress and leave an impact on the audience. …show more content…

With that being said, Ephron wanted her words to the women to be arousing and enlightening , “I will try to be at least as helpful.”(1). This builds the credibility of Ephron as she was those women in those seats. She wondered what final words of guidance would be said and if it would impact her at all, which is the same thoughts that were going through the graduates head’s. Ephron’s feminism becomes more apparent throughout the speech. This increases the level of effectiveness and how persuasive the speech is, thus creating a tie with the women because they understand that Ephron does want them to succeed and is concerned with their well being in a world where women are not wanted to be successful, “Don't underestimate how much antagonism there is toward women .”(11). Ephron keeps the audience intrigued with her encouraging and blunt words.

Throughout the speech, Ephron touches base on her experiences during college.These small anecdotes help the women understand the struggles she and other women had while attending school in a time period where men dominated most things. For instance, the moment when Ephron was told by her dean that she works too hard and should take a year off after college to devote her time to her marriage. Ephron was shocked by these words and assumed it was told to all the other women who attended Wesley, but in fact it was not. A fellow graduate from Wesley was told by the dean to not have children after

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