1996 State of the Union Address: Tricolon
1996 State of the Union Address: Tricolon
Ever heard of the Rule of Three? Whether you're singing the choruses for a pop song or reciting a State of the Union Address, you want to always keep the number three in mind. Just check out Clinton's intro. Not only does he come up with "three fundamental questions," he also structures his early paragraphs around three points.
See for yourself:
Our leadership in the world is also strong, bringing hope for new peace. And perhaps most important, we are gaining ground in restoring our fundamental values. The crime rate, the welfare and food stamp rolls, the poverty rate, and the teen pregnancy rate are all down. (4.1-3)
Pay attention to how Clinton uses three sentences/points to describe what's good about the State of the Union. It's beautiful symmetry, just like a triangle.
You might not have noticed…but your brain did. And your brain said, "Aaah. What lovely symmetry."