Question

read the excerpt from president clintons 2001 farewell address.

as for me, ill leave the presidency more idealistic, more full of hope, than the day i arrived, and more confident than ever that americas best days lie ahead.

which argumentative technique does clinton use in this excerpt?

• an appeal to credibility
• a well-supported counterclaim
• an appeal to logic
• repetition of words and ideas

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt for structural patterns

The excerpt reads: "As for me, I'll leave the presidency more idealistic, more full of hope, than the day I arrived, and more confident than ever that America's best days lie ahead."

Identify the rhetorical device

The phrase repeats the comparative structure "more [adjective/adjective phrase]" ("more idealistic," "more full of hope," "more confident") to emphasize Clinton's growing optimism. This is a clear use of parallel structure and repetition of words and ideas.

Evaluate the given options

• "an appeal to credibility" (ethos): The focus is on his personal feelings and outlook, not establishing authority or moral character.
• "a well-supported counterclaim": There is no opposing argument presented or refuted.
• "an appeal to logic" (logos): The statement is emotional and reflective rather than based on hard data or logical proofs.
• "repetition of words and ideas": The repeated use of "more" and the parallel structure of optimistic ideas directly matches this technique.

Answer:

• an appeal to credibility
• a well-supported counterclaim
• an appeal to logic
• repetition of words and ideas (Correct answer)