Comments and discussion

In this part of the study guide, we will give you some advice on subjects and issues you might want to comment upon or discuss in Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech. Remember that whatever you choose to discuss or comment upon, you should argue for your opinion and avoid making emotional responses.

You could choose to discuss, for instance, Barack Obama’s definition of the American promise. In his speech, Obama frequently relates the concept of the American promise with things such as freedom, respect, hard work, evolution, unity, individual efforts and community efforts. At the same time, he connects it to dreams, ambition, and to the country’s past:

That promise is our greatest inheritance. It's a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night, and a promise that you make to yours – a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and women to reach for the ballot. (p. 110, ll. 13-17)

In this case, you could...