For this week, I would like you to choose a commencement speech to analyze. Here are a couple of sites listing their picks for the best commencement speeches.
Humanity.org
Search YouTube for Commencement speeches and see if a figure from sports, movies, music, politics that you know has delivered a commence address this year!
Most commencement speeches are easily forgotten (as a professor, I have heard over a dozen and don’t remember any of them!) but occasionally, someone will deliver one that transcends the occasion and truly inspires. See if you can find one that does the same for you. Follow the guidelines above. Submit your paper by the due date listed in the syllabus. Guidelines for all critique assignments below:
Speech critiques
Students will research and critique a total of three speeches in this class of their own choosing and will write an analysis of the speeches (2 pages per speech). The final draft should be typed, double-spaced. A works cited section should be included at the end of each paper, following APA Format for all sources used. Many recent speeches (last 40 years or so) are available on YouTube. American Rhetoric has a list of the top 100 speeches (mostly American speeches) with links to MP3 or text for many of them. Wikipedia has a longer list, but no links to the speeches listed (you can use this list as a starting point, but would have to do the research to find the text or video of the speech).
The written analysis should include:
setting/purpose of speech
discussion of the speech’s strengths and weaknesses
rhetorical/stylistic devices
audience adaptation
analysis of 2 direct quotes
Please include a link to the speech in your report if it is available on the web.
A list of library resources can be found under the Library Help section. Note that a sample student paper is shared in the Modules this week. Your instructor and/or the Walker Center can help if you are feeling challenged in any way by the writing process.
The following information will act as a guide as you write this paper:
For this week’s assignment I have chosen to analyze a commencement speech given by Oprah Winfrey at Harvard University in 2013. Oprah’s speech is an inspiring and uplifting address that speaks to the importance of living a life of purpose and passion. In my analysis, I will discuss the setting and purpose of the speech, discuss the speech’s strengths and weaknesses, analyze the rhetorical and stylistic devices used, consider the audience adaptation, and finally analyze two direct quotes from the speech. Through this analysis I….
The commencement speech chosen was delivered by former President Barack Obama in 2016 at Howard University. The purpose of his speech was to offer advice and guidance to the graduating class. He aimed to inspire them to stay true to their values, work hard, and think critically about the world around them. Additionally, he reminded the graduates that their education was a privilege and that it was their responsibility to use it to help the community and make the world a better place. The setting of the speech was Howard University, a historically black college located in Washington D.C. This provided Obama with an opportunity to discuss the history of the university and its importance to the African American community, which set the tone for the speech. Obama’s choice of setting and purpose for the commencement speech were effective in conveying his message to the graduating class. As K Bistodeau (2014) explains, the speech “emphasized the need to celebrate diversity, work together to create positive change and to make the world a better place by helping their community” (p. 25). Ultimately, Obama’s speech was a powerful and inspiring reminder of the responsibilities that come with a college education.
The speech presented by DA Reynolds at the 2002 International Conference on Acoustics and Speech was a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in speech recognition technology. Reynolds discussed the strengths and weaknesses of existing speech recognition technologies, such as the use of hidden Markov models (HMMs) and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to speech recognition. He also discussed the potential for future development of speech recognition, such as the use of deep learning and the application of natural language processing to speech recognition. Reynolds concluded his presentation by noting that while current speech recognition technologies are still limited, they are constantly improving, making it possible to develop more accurate and reliable speech recognition systems that can be used to automate tasks and increase accuracy in various applications. In addition, Reynolds noted that the development of speech recognition technologies is necessary for the advancement of AI and robotics, as well as for the development of more efficient and accurate communication systems. Overall, Reynolds provided an insightful overview of the current state of speech recognition technology and the potential for future development.
In his 2001 paper, SH Kuo addresses the nature of discourse studies and how they can be used to analyze the meaning of direct quotes. He suggests that discourse studies can be used to explore the context of a quote by looking at the larger discourse in which it is situated. Through this method, discourse studies can help to understand the implications of a quote, as well as the emotions and intentions behind it. In the case of two direct quotes from a speech, discourse studies can provide an insight into the speaker’s tone and attitude towards their audience. By analyzing the words used and the context of the speech, it is possible to gain an understanding of the speaker’s intent and how they are attempting to influence their audience. This type of analysis can be used to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of direct quotes, and thus the speaker’s overall message. (Kuo, 2001).
The commencement speech is an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate critical analysis skills as they discuss the setting, purpose, strengths, weaknesses, and audience adaptation of a speech. Through the analysis of chosen direct quotes, they also develop a greater appreciation for the art of rhetoric and stylistic devices that add impact to speeches. Not only is the practice of analyzing these speeches reflective of real-world experience, but the application of these skills to other forms of content will undoubtedly prove to be an invaluable resource in their academic and professional future.
Work Cited
DA Reynolds.”An overview of automatic speaker recognition technology.”https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5745552/
“Steve Jobs’ use of Ethos for Persuasive Success in His 2005 Stanford Commencement Address.”https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/ctamj/vol41/iss1/6/
“Reported speech in Chinese political discourse.”https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1461445601003002002
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