Structure
Steve Jobs divides his speech into three main parts, supported by stories from his life. Thus, it is easy to follow his speech since it is divided into several parts united by a common theme. At the beginning of his speech, Steve Jobs thanked for the opportunity to speak at the commencement at such a famous university as Stanford. In addition, he jokingly mentions that he himself never graduated from college. There are several reasons for this, which are contained in his desire to find his destiny. The main thematic parts of his performance are connecting the dots, love, and death. He ends his speech with instructive words: “Stay hungry. Stay foolish” (Jobs 00:14:29). They are aimed at motivating students not to stop searching for what is important to them in life.
Audience Analysis
The audience consists of Stanford University graduates, respectively Steve Jobs’ speech is directed at them. He adapts his speech quite competently due to the simplicity of the narration and the use of various ironic statements and light jokes. In addition, the very essence of Steve Jobs’ speech is aimed at creating different images for listeners with whom they can easily relate. The founder of Apple presents the audience with rather personal facts that bring him closer to students who may experience similar backgrounds.
Delivery
This speech of Steve Jobs can be described as calm and confident. He makes measured pauses and observes a stable rhythm, which allows listeners to assimilate information easily. This is what came out for me in a positive way, as it forces people to listen to the speech carefully and thoughtfully. In addition, the pitch of his speech is quite stable, which indicates that he is not worried and is prepared for the performance. While pausing, Steve Jobs pays attention to the audience’s reaction, trying to fix their reaction to various statements. In my opinion, his speech lacks the greater expressiveness and emotionality that would be necessary for the conclusion.
Work Cited
Jobs, Steve. “2005 Stanford Commencement Address.”YouTube, uploaded by Stanford, Web.