Topic

Barack Obama’s 2012 victory speech is a political speech delivered after the speaker was reelected to serve a second term as US President. This suggests that the topics of the speech are of a political nature.

The overall topic of the speech is that of American diversity as a source of strength for the US. Secondary themes are those of hope and equal opportun…

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American diversity as strength

The speaker explores the topic of diversity as strength when he talks about the elections. He alludes to the fact that the 2012 electoral campaign was a closer fight than when he was elected in 2008: “We may have battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future.” (ll. …

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Equal opportunity

The speaker argues that the principle of equal opportunity is embedded in the nation’s official founding documents: “I believe we can keep the promise of our founding, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you l…

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Hope

Last but not least, the message of the speech is one of being hopeful about America’s future and America’s capacity to work together to make the nation better: “But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America's future.” (ll. 119-120); “…love and charity and duty and patriotism. That's what makes America great. (Cheers, applause.) I am hopeful tonight because I…

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Argumentation

Speakers can choose to convey their views and arguments using direct argumentation, hidden argumentation, or using a combination of both. In Barack Obama’s 2012 election victory speech, you will notice a combination of both direct and hidden argumentation.

For example, Obama uses direct argumentation when he expresses his views openly and clearly: “It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression…” (ll. 7-9); “I have always…