Slide 1

Obamas Victory Speech

Slide 2

R einforcement einforcement T ext Analysisext Analysis Obamas Victory Speech B ackground ackground W arming uparming up Unit 15

Slide 3

Warming up Questions / Activities What did Obama want to say in this speech? What were the main points he tried to make on this occasion? Which section and which lines do you think are particularly well put?

Slide 4

Background Author Unit 15 Obamas Victory Speech

Slide 5

Background Author Barack Obama Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the president of the Harvard Law Review. He was a community organizer in Chicago before earning his law degree. He worked as a civil rights attorney in Chicago and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the president of the Harvard Law Review. He was a community organizer in Chicago before earning his law degree. He worked as a civil rights attorney in Chicago and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. His Life

Slide 6

Background Author Barack Obama He ran for United States Senate in 2004. Several events brought him to national attention during the campaign, including his victory in the March 2004 Democratic primary and his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. He won election to the U.S. Senate in November, 2004. His presidential campaign began in February 2007, and after a close campaign in the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries against Hillary Rodham Clinton, he won his party's nomination. In the 2008 general election, he defeated Republican nominee John McCain, and was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2009. His Life

Slide 7

This is the speech delivered by Obama to some 600,000 supporters in Grant Park, Chicago, when he won the election as the first Afro-American president of the United States. Obama is generally acclaimed as a powerful speaker, and this short speech is a good example. Many commentators found it forceful and lyrical. That is why it is chosen as one of our Intensive Reading texts. Background Article

Slide 8

Detailed Analysis Structure Unit 15 Text Analysis Obamas Victory Speech

Slide 9

The introduction (para. 14): Obama hails his election as a triumphant victory for American democracy. The body (para. 528) A. He reviews the 21-month-long campaign and expresses his gratitude to people concerned. (para. 513) He pays tribute to his opponents in the election. (para. 56) He expresses gratitude to those who have supported him in the campaign. (para. 79) He owes his election mostly to the broad masses of American people. (para. 1013) B. He looks ahead to his new job confidently. (para. 1428) He appeals to American people to join him in remaking the nation (para. 1416) He urges American people to unite, displaying a new spirit of patriotism, fighting partisanship, and sticking to the ideals of the nation. (para. 1720) By sharing the story of a 106-year-old black woman who has witnessed the nations progress in the past century, he conveys to all Americans his confidence in the nation. (para. 2128) The conclusion (para. 2931) He sets new goals for the United States. Structure Text Analysis

Slide 10

Detailed Analysis Part I: Main Idea What is the dream of American founders? In the sentence tonight is your answer, what is the answer after all? What does he want to express in this part?

Slide 11

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part I: Sentence Paraphrase It's the answer spoken by Native American, gay, straight, (para. 3) 1) Spoke an answer is not a common collocation. 2) Native Americans refers to American Indians. 3) Gay and straight refer to the homosexuals and heterosexuals. Homosexuals usually refer to men.

Slide 12

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part I: Sentence Paraphrase put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day (para. 4) Note the use of the word arc here. It may come from the belief that historical development does not take a straight line. It can be bent by human beings one way or the other.

Slide 13

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Main Idea Why do you think Obama congratulates his opponents Senator McCain and Governor Palin? Obama gives his thanks to his wife and shows his love to his other family members and relatives. He even mentions the new puppy given to his daughters. Why does he make these highly personal remarks? In para.11, Obama says that he was never the likeliest candidate for this office. Why does he say so apart from being black? In para.13, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetimetwo wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. What do you know about these challenges?

Slide 14

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Main Idea How do you understand the term partisanship? What is Obamas view about it? When he criticizes it as petty and immature and poisonous to the nations politics, is he expressing the idea that the two-party system of the United States is no good? and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back ourprogress. the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. (para. 18, 19) Why does he pay special compliment to Lincoln? What is Obama trying to do here?

Slide 15

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Main Idea When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, (para.26 ) Do you know the historical background of what Obama is talking about here? In American political rhetoric, what does tyranny refer to? Why does Obama use Ann Nixon Coopers life story to review the past centurys historythe headaches and the hopes, the struggle and the progress?

Slide 16

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase It's been a long time coming,(para.5) Paraphrasing: We have waited a long time for this day.

Slide 17

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, (para. 8) Paraphrasing: I would not have succeeded if it had not been for the firm support of my best friend for the last sixteen years

Slide 18

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy(para. 12) The younger generation today in the States has sometimes been referred to by some people as the generation of apathy meaning they are rather indifferent to what goes on in the world or in the country. Obama says that what young people have done in this election has proved that it is not so; the younger generation does care.

Slide 19

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase braved the bitter cold and scorching heat (para. 12) Paraphrasing: went outside in spite of the extremely hot and cold weather

Slide 20

There will be setbacks and false starts. (para. 15) False starts originally means starting too soon at the beginning of a race. Here it refers to mistakes or unsuccessful attempts at the beginning in general. Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase

Slide 21

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Sentence Paraphrase And to all those watching tonightAnd to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright (para. 19) Many early Puritans came to the North American continent for religious reasonsto build a Christian Paradise on earth, to build a City upon a Hill, a Beacon of democracy and freedom.

Slide 22

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II: Words & Expressions Words Phrases Words dismiss Phrases beyond measure; fall back on; at hand; except for; press on Sentence Pattern Grammar

Slide 23

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part II : Exercise Translate the following sentences into English, using words in the brackets. 1. (measure) It is because his great devotion to the human being that his life value is beyond measure. 2. dismiss The government dismissed the reports as speculation. 3. fall back Doctors sometimes fall back on old cures. 4. press We must press on with the work if we are to finish it in time. 5. hand Only after you have worked out what and why you feel can you start to deal with the problem at hand.

Slide 24

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part III: Sentence Paraphrase if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, What progress will we have made? (para. 29) 1)When should is used with if, it usually refers to a possibility and should be translated as . 2) will have made: This is used in the future perfect tense.

Slide 25

Text Analysis Detailed Analysis Part III: Exercise Translate the following sentences into English, using the words in the brackets. 1. (should) If he should fail to come, ask Mr. Li to work in his place. 2. (put) We do hope that we didnt put you to great inconvenience.

Slide 26

Reinforcement Discussion Work in groups of four and discuss the following questions: 1.What do you think of the language and style of this speech? Do you find it powerful and convincing? 2.If a Chinese person wins an election, what is he/she expected to say? In what way will the different approaches reflect cultural differences? 3.Is the eloquence of a politician a reliance guarantee that he/she is going to be a great leader? Are those who are particularly good at winning votes always good at running the country as well? If the answer is no, why then do we have elections?