American presidential speeches: a frame analysis

Abstract

This master's thesis is on the topic of framing. Framing is a phenomena that can found in all use of language, mostly below the level of consciousness. Through conscious use, framing can be a potent rhetorical strategy. This master's thesis focused on two research questions. (1) Do President's Bush Jr. and Obama employ different frames on the same topics? (2) Do the frames conform to typical conservative or progressive values? These questions will be answered through analysis of the frames used in presidential speeches by President Bush Jr. and President Obama.