Textuality » 4A Interacting
Obama's speech was on the 7th of November 2012, after his second
election. It is an oral argumentation with simple sentences and there
are a lot of repetition of concepts.
It can be divided into five
paragraphs. The first is the introductory paragraph where Obama
thanks all the people who voted him and supported him.
The second
paragraph is a part of the body of the text and its function is to
remember all people their typical values. It starts with three simple
sentences, that express the same concept with different words. At the
beginning of the sentence he used the pronouns "ours"to
underline that he is part of all American people, because he wants to
create an united America. First he starts talking about American
people's values. We can understand he wants to refer to all the
social classes from "from the corner office to the factory
floor". He takes personal examples about his grandparents: this
is a way to highlight the American history and the important and
relevant position of America in the history.
In the following part
Obama keeps the audience's attention alert on the actual situation.
He says that they are living a period of crisis but it will be over
if they only want to. He talks about the important values of America.
America is under crisis and that's why he ran for president. He
doesn't talk about the problems but he talks about the effects these
problems had upon the people. He uses a concrete language ("to
put gas in the car or food on the table") to be directed to the
people, to be better understood keeping their attention alert. He
opens a parenthesis about his rival's program accusing him no to do
the best things for the USA. He also calls him "friend", an
ironic way. By this statement, he tries to catch the audience
approvement. He uses the dialogue to make the idea he is talking to
someone.
He nominates the China, an American enemy, to make more
real his speech. He wants to be a solution in order to progress and
move on the America. Obama talks about his program comparing it
with an hard path. But it relies on the values he had already
remembered to the audience.
Finally he stars showing his program
lines: with his words he gives the impression that everything is
possible. He always gives concrete examples for his statements.
After that he talks about energy that is a very important point.
Firstly he remembers that he had done great things to make the USA
free and he moves talking about natural and bio energy.
In conclusion, I think that Obama's speech is a very concrete way to
persuade all people that he is the best president and he wants
America's interests.