Composition

Barack Obama begins his “Audacity of Hope” speech by expressing his gratitude for being selected as the keynote speaker at the 2004 Democratic Convention: “On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention”. The composition of his speech can be split into five parts.

In the first part of his speech, Obama provides a personal story and talks about the faith that all Americans – including his forebears – have in the country. 

In the second part of the speech, Obama focuses on some of the issues that average Americans confront. Here, Obama provides stories about some of the people he met and about the necessity of changing America’s prioriti...