Obama's Speech Back to School

President Obama’s speech was delivered in Arlington High School, Virginia in 2009. It was also being filmed and sent to the rest of educational institutions from preschools to senior classes. The speech is a pep talk, which goal is to inspire and motivate the countries’ students to take responsibility and to work hard in school.

 Obama is focusing on the importance of education in his speech. He emphasizes how important education is if they want a good life, and how the students have the responsibility for their own learning. He also complains that they don’t only have their responsibility for themselves – but also their country. USA is depending on that they get a good education so they can get out and curing cancer, invent new sales products and participate in the economy. Obama is using many specific and personal examples to convey his message that everyone has the opportunity to do well, no matter what kind of background you come from. His own experiences is being pulled forward, Michelle Obama’s story is being told, he reproduces examples of three students with difficult conditions in spite of these conditions has performed well, and he is also mentioning celebrities like Michael Jordan and JK Rowling.

 Barack Obama’s target group is students from preschools (5-6 years old) to senior classes (17-18 years old). This has a big influence in his way to talk. He is trying to place himself in an eye level with the students so they can identify themselves with him. We already see that in his way to greet with the students: “Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today?” (Line 1). He is using a simple language and specific examples that students can relate to and maybe even recognize themselves in. Obama doesn’t use metaphors or comparisons because it will probably not fit in his target group that is between 6-18 years old. That’s why his formulation is simple.

   To his message must take root in them and have a kind of effect, it is important that they understand that he is “one of them” and not just the president of US. He achieves this by being at eye level with them and by telling them that he has been exactly where they are today: ”I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school.” (Line 10-11) and on line 67-69: ”I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school.” By telling the students about his own personal experiences through his childhood and school attendance, he is strengthening his credibility, which is a typical ethos argument.

Obama speaks to the audience’s conscience and sense of responsibility. He explains to them that they must take responsibility for their own learning and that they only can be successful by living up to the responsibilities they have as students: ”But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities.” (Line 29-31)

  Obama also speaks to the audience’s patriotic feelings, which means he is also using pathos argument. He tries to get them to work more seriously with their education, not only for their own sake, but also for their country: “We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect...If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.” (Line 62-64)

Obama makes use of rhetorical questions to engage his listener to think and probably act. Questions in a speech will always get the listener to stop and try to answer the question, and thereby give active consideration to what is being said:  ”So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve?” (Line 158-159)

Obama is trying to give the students confidence and motivation: ”Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer.” (line 36-38) In these lines he is also getting their attention because he is relating to their life.