The topic in this speech is ‘the American Promise’ Because Barack Obama refers to ‘the American Promise’ through the entire speech. The speech ‘the American Promise’ shares Barack Obamas ideas about American promise with the American population. Barack Obama means every people can follow their dreams, if people work hard enough and believe on it. [1 line 6] ‘[‘] through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can dreams [‘]’.
Obama make this speech on August 28, 2008 at the democratic convention. People how listen to the speech was the American population. Before the speech had Obama a strong ethos because he was accepted and nominated for the democrats. Many people found Obama suitable, on this basis. Same time were million people in front of the TV and saw and followed his speech. Over thousand people showed up and listen to him at Denver’s Invesco. Obama used a neutral language, to make sure that the American people understand what he said. Obamas opinion were to give hope to the Americans for a better future and to persuade Americans to select him to be the next President of the United States.
Obama’s speech is strong, because he have catchy effect in his speech. The speech has some positive things, when he says [page 1 line 30-31] ‘our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us.’ Obama make some contrast between how it should be in the future in America and how it is. He used different type of expression to persuade people to choose him as their future president. When he used different type, will people remember his point of view. He takes anaphora in use with a line of expressions [page 1 line 17 and 21] ‘it’s a promise that says [‘]’. The anaphora makes together with the structure this part of the speech easy to understand. It gives the speech a pedagogical quality. Barack Obamas refer to the American people by using the sponsorship effect when he mentions Martin Luther King. Obama reminding the American people about Luther King’s dream, Obama would indirectly like his listeners to pledge to keep the dream alive. Luther King had a god image in America, it is why Obama wants to create ethos by saying this.
Obama creates appeals to convince the people to trust him. Obama says we have to pledge to keep Martin Luther King’s dream alive, and make that to an American promise. He creates pathos when he says we must swear that we will stand together, no matter what the future will bring. ‘At this moment, in this election, must we pledge once more to march into the future’ [page 2 line 37-38]. In the speech uses Obama the words ‘we’ and ‘our’ a lot. This give a sense of community to the American people. Their feeling appeals and creates pathos ‘Instead, it is that American spirit ‘ that American that pushes us forward even when the patch is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences;’ [page 2 line 9-11]. He appeals also to the logic of his audience, talking about the changes he wants to make, if the promise is kept. When he talks about the government’s responsibility according to the American promise can he capable of telling it in a dreamy fashion. ‘Protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys save; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.’ [Page 1 line 27]
Barack Obama is a good speaker, he uses an easily language, even a man for the street can understand him. He has a clear definition of the subject, he is able to make his views about the American Promise in a compelling manner. Barack Obama is one of the best political speakers in the western world today.
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