Back to School Speech by Obama Essay

This essay is about President Barack Obama’s speech â€Å" Back to school â€Å" which he held September 8th 2009 at the Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. The overall message in the speech is whether young people are taking school serious and understand the importance of hard work. Not only for themselves but also for the future of the country. â€Å"Hello everyone – how’s everybody doing today? I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.† I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous.† Obama is starting out by addressing his audience like a father figure, trying to reach all realities in the audience by mentioning all the grades. He is making himself real to the audience, presenting himself as a guy who is down to earth. â€Å"Some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning† And already in line 10 â€Å"I know that feeling†. He is referring to his own life. He is explaining how he had to get up 4.30 every morning to study with his mom, and how he wasn’t too happy getting up that early. Here he is making himself real to the audience, explaining something from his childhood that they will understand. So here he is using pathos appealing to the feelings. From line 20, it’s like he is changing from being the friend of the audience to his role as the president of the United States again.â€Å" But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you.† From line 25, 30 and 35 he is revealing the essence of his speech. His message is that it is ones own commitment and hard work that will make one succeed in life. â€Å"You can have the most dedicated teachers and supportive parents, but unless you individually takes responsibility nothing of this is very helpful.† In line 40 and 50 he is more friendly againâ€Å" Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. † He is motivating the audience by saying that every person has something that they’re good at, that everyone has a important role In the American society. Obama is also very good at mentioning things many people can relate to in his speech. â€Å"Maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone. â€Å" Here he is mentioning the iphone that most children can relate to. From line 50 to 75 he talks more about morals again. He is very seriously talking about how everyone needs to have an education to get a job, and how it takes hard work. More important in Obama’s speech is that your education not only decides ones own future, but ones country’s future. Obama is really good to alternate between being judgmental and understanding through the speech, for example in the line â€Å" Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer.† He is very understanding and encouraging to the people, before he with this sentences; â€Å" If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country. Is being very judgmental. From line 75 to 85 Obama is again being more understanding. Obama explains his personal difficulties from his own childhood, and that he understands school isn’t always easy. Obama explains how his father left the family when he was 2 years old, and that he was raised by a single mother without much money. â€Å"There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in.† Obama then talks about how he through hard work was fortunate to go to college and follow his dream, to attempt law school. In this part of the speech Obama is using ethos. He is trying to be trustworthy. From line 95 Obama again set himself up as the country father. He explains that there is no excuse for having a bad attitude and also no excuse for not trying hard and giving your best towards education. From line 100â€Å" Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you.† Obama is referring to the American dream. Mentioning personal freedom and responsibility for ones own destiny. He explains that with hard work you can accomplish everything you want, no matter background or social rank. From the line 105 – 110 – 115 Obama is stressing his statement by giving some concrete examples about how real people with all sorts of difficulties, made it through hard work and determination. This is an example of logos, because he is giving concrete examples that are supportive to the message of the speech. From line 170 he is again referring to the American dream. â€Å"The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best. â€Å" At the end of the speech from line 175 to 185 Obama is talking about America as a culture surviving through many decades.â€Å" It’s the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation â€Å" Obama ask the audiences what they will do to pass on the American culture, and what people in about 50 years will remember from this time. And so he puts some positive pressure on the kids, hoping to get them to understand their responsibility to secure the American dream and culture in the future.