Brendan McBride

Intro
The purpose of the speech is to prepare the graduates for the real
world
learning how to think- conscience and aware of what you pay
attention to
Varies from a typical commencement speech
Thesis:
o In David Foster Wallaces commencement speech, This is
Water, he wants the audience to understand the meaning of
their default setting.

Quote #1- It is our default-setting, hardwired into our boards at birth.

Think about it: There is no experience youve had that you were not at the
absolute center of (Wallace XIII).
Natural reaction to an event
Compassion towards other people
You dont know their background story
Automatic setting

Quote #2- "There are these two young fish swimming along, and they
happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them
and says, "Morning, boys, how's the water?" And the two young fish swim on
for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes,
"What the hell is water?"" (Wallace XII).
The fish are too oblivious to what is going on around them that they
do not see important things in life
Slow down and realize the valuable things in life
Too occupied in their own world

Quote #3- Im going to be pissed and miserable every time I have to

food-shop, because my natural default-setting is the certainty that situations
like this are really all about me (Wallace XIV)
People fall back into their default setting and become annoyed with
society
Too concerned about themselves and their own problems, not
others

People often get caught up in their boring daily routine and do not
realize what is going on around them.

Quote #4- People who can adjust their natural default-setting this
way are often described as being well adjusted, which I suggest to you is
not an accidental term (Wallace XIII).
Wallace believes that you will be happier and enjoy life more if you
do not fall back into your default setting
Ironic that Wallace did not follow his own advice
Change is encouraged
o Value of changing default setting
Be more observant
Can improve by adjusting instead of living a day to day routine

Conclusion
Rephrased thesis: By the end of the speech This is Water, the
audience understands the meaning of their own default setting.
Quote #5- But if youve really learned how to think, how to pay
attention, then you will know you have other options (Wallace
XVI).
o
Dont get caught up in default setting
Change is good
Understand other people
Difficult to do. Wallace is not the wise fish.
o Ironic that he committed suicide