Topic

Barack Obama’s speech on the American promise mainly focuses on the theme of the American promise. Note that Obama’s speech comes three days after Michelle Obama’s speech at the opening night of the Democratic Convention, which was related to the theme of the American Dream.

Both concepts - the American Dream and the American promise - relate to the idea of opportunity, common effort, and hope for a better future. Barack Obama sees the American promise as a promise of opportunities for present and future generations granted by t…

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The American promise

First, Obama relates the concept of the American promise to his presence in front of the audience. He talks about his parents who, although having modest roots, wanted their son to grow up in a land of opportunity where he could achieve his aims:

Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story – of the brief union between a you…

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Argumentation

Obama’s speech relies on both direct/open argumentation and indirect/hidden argumentation.

One example of direct argumentation (where the speaker openly states his/her arguments) is in one of the last paragraphs of the speech, when Obama lists a number of arguments to support the idea that the US must keep moving forward:

America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate…