Ambassador Joseph W. Westphal, Essay Example

Ambassador Joseph W. Westphal, during his lecture used several rhetorical tools to connect with the audience and gain engagement. The Ambassador has been working in higher education for several decades, and his speech was logical, entertaining, and engaging.

The speaker talked to the audience about how the diversity of the U.S. higher education system should be viewed as an advantage, instead of a problem. The Ambassador used relevant quotes that made him appear credible, and an expert. Using visual aids, such as the large screen, he highlighted the most important information and thoughts, making sure that the audience was able to follow him. He also broke tension by using humor and twists. The Ambassador used low context, direct language, and focusing on individual performance and success, instead of addressing the group. The only thing that was distracting is that the speaker kept on looking at his watch, as if he was in a hurry to deliver the session.

The topic of the lecture was extremely relevant to the audience, as the speaker talked about how to achieve success. As students were just before major decisions, such as continuing their studies on a doctorate level, pursuing a career, or specializing on specific issues, the information presented was not only useful, but extremely relevant, as well.

The use of visual aids, such as showing images of New York City was also powerful, as it engaged the audience to connect with the topic and use their imagination. Further increasing his credibility, the Ambassador told students about his past experience, and quoted several examples to prove his point. Overall, the lecture made the audience think about education, globalization, opportunities, career choices, and showed them that it is possible to achieve one’s goals, provided that one has a clear vision. He followed up the power point presentation with his own remarks, explained the ideas, and held a Q and A session after the lecture, making it easy to clarify certain points. Overall, the session was engaging and informative, beneficial for all students looking for help with planning their future success.