Speech Analysis (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Title Date Speech Analysis The former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama delivered her passionate keynote speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Her purpose was to solidify support for the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, and urge Americans to vote for him in the upcoming election. This analysis focuses on how Obama uses the strategies of body language, facial expressions, intonation, articulation, and contrast to engage and maintain the interest of her audience. She utilizes the three primary divisions of a speech; her introduction captures the attention of her audience, the body articulates her position, and her conclusion emphasizes the theme of empathy and persuades Americans to vote for Joe Biden. Contrary to her previous convention speeches, Obama’s speech is delivered virtually. Despite the inability to see her audience in person and without the benefit of loud, cheerful applause, she strikes a conversational tone while speaking directly to the camera and maintaining eye contact with the audience watching at home. As such, rather than appearing to speak to an arena full of people, she pitches her voice to individual viewers. She uses a compelling tone, radiating sincerity and establishing a personal connection with each audience member. Obama opens her speech with a soft voice and humble yet clear tone, portraying that she shares the pain of many Americans. She reminds her audience that although many of them are hurting and disinterested in politics, politics still matter because it determines the nation’s direction. Her opening remarks are “It’s a hard time, and everyone is feeling it in different ways, and I know a lot of folks are reluctant to tune in to a political convention like this…But I am here tonight because I love my country with all my heart, and it pains me to see so many people hurting.” The opening statement validates why she is speaking to the American people at the present moment. It captures the audience’s attention and interest and gives them a reason to listen to her. She pauses to add effect to her statements in the introduction and throughout her speech, using short sentences and simplified language to enable her audience to understand why they need to vote and support the Democratic presidential candidate. To underscore the importance of participating in the upcoming elections, Obama later in her speech tells the audience that she hates politics, but Obama uses facial expressions to show the gravity of a presidential election and why it matters to elect the right person “with a clear-headed judgment, mastery of complex and competing issues, a devotion to facts and history, a moral compass, and an ability to listen, and an abiding belief that each of the 330 million lives has meaning and worth” to the presidency. When making this assertion, she widens her eyes, tightens her mouth, and furrows her glabella to convey that what she was saying is important. Obama repeatedly nods her head and frowns her face to express disapproval of the incumbent president. For example, while stating that “Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country,” she nods her head side to side to show her disappointment and dissatisfaction with the current president. She also pinches the corner of her mouth to say nonverbally that she was is satisfied with the current situation. She says, “Sadly, this is the America on display for the next generation. A nation that’s underperforming not simply on matters of policy, but on matters of character.” She frowns her face to express irritation and resentment when stating what the failing moral fabric of the nation is “just not disappointing, but downright infuriating.” Additionally, Obama uses her hands throughout her speech to emphasize the significance and her firm belief in what she is saying. For example, she opens up her arms to illustrate how Joe Biden cares for every American and understands their pain, himself having gone through the personal pain of losing his wife, daughter, and son. Moreover, Obama uses intonation to convey expressive meanings such as resentment, happiness, and hope for the future. For instance, when talking about the loss Joe Biden has encountered in his life, her voice grows calm. However, she raises her voice when saying, “This is who we still are,” to stress that the social and moral fabric that holds Americans together is still intact. Obama articulates the recurring theme of empathy. When introducing this theme, she uses repetition and says, “...empathy. Empathy. That’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.” She goes ahead to explain to her audience the meaning of empathy. She then describes how the last four years have been devoid of empathy under the current president. In an assertive and strong tone, she states that Donald Trump is not the right president for America because he lacks empathy. ...