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?