Current president Barack Obama gives a speech at Wakefield high school in Arlington, Virginia. The main theme is “everyone is equal and have the same opportunities”. Nothing comes easy in life and you have to work hard for it. The intention of the speech is to motivate the American students. Do your homework, take responsibility for your life and take your school seriously. Not only for the purpose of yourself, but also for America’s future. Make students believe in them self and fight for it, whether they are black or white, rich or poor. Everyone can achieve what he or she wants, but it’s followed by hard work. “Everyone is equal”. That’s the most dominant value which Obama mentions in the speech. As Obama says “No one’s written your destiny …show more content…
By using pathos, he tries to convince the audience. He uses himself as an example by telling he have had a rough upbringing and it’s not having been easy. However, in the end it turned out well. At the same time the audience feel sorry for him, because he tells how rough his life has been. When Obama tells about his own life, he doesn’t mention what he has become of the hard work, because that might send a wrong signal. Everyone knows that he had succeeded and he will appear way too self-assured. He just says that he has worked hard and it has turned out well. The whole speech is some sort of tool Obama uses to motivate people. You can call it a big pep talk. He tries to motivate by using himself as an example. But if you’re only using yourself as an example, it can be too monotonous. Therefor he quotes Michael Jordan, “I have failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” It’s a good way to motivate, by using the authority of another person. And on the other hand a lot of young people know Michael Jordan and seeing him as a role model. And when a “boring” politician like Barack Obama quotes Michael Jordan, the audience will think he’s cool and will boost Obamas motivation