The speech chosen for the critical analysis is the address of Michelle Obama to Americans to volunteer and build a new foundation for the country under the initiative called United We Serve. The video’s name is “Michelle Obama Calls on You to Serve,” produced in 2009 to encourage American people to help communities across the US under the leadership of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency aimed to facilitate community service (The Obama White House, 2009).
The First Lady in 2009 chose a topic that was challenging and inspiring to Americans of that time since they faced an economic crisis and issues that severely impacted the whole country. The purpose of the speech was not entirely clear from the beginning. However, not stating the main objective of the address straight from the beginning was a method used to emphasize what the government had done to improve communities’ situation. Without the help of all people, no achievement would be created (The Obama White House, 2009).
The speaker did not refer to studies on the topic but to initiatives that the authorities had already undertaken in education, health care, clean energy, and economic recovery to enhance and trigger the country’s economic growth. Michelle had referred to sources people can use, such as Serve.com, to provide relevant information on the community service’s objective, highlighting the in-depth knowledge about the topic and actions needed.
I was particularly interested in observing Michelle Obama’s presentation of the topic, the composition of her speech, and points that she had highlighted to encourage people to serve their communities and unite people under the challenging initiative. As I also had my volunteering ideas, it was interesting to explore tools that help turn ideas into projects meaningful for society and see how the First Lady motivates people to start acting to improve the situation after the economic downturn.
The speaker introduced the topic after highlighting the context of the US’s situation that experienced a crisis and needs recovery after it. Michelle pointed out initiatives and actions that were implemented and asked people to join her and the President to serve communities and build the foundation for the state’s future growth with the help of the United We Serve initiative that she introduced(The Obama White House, 2009). The speaker successfully gained attention and oriented the audience by presenting examples of how people can help society.
The speech was lively, appropriate to the topic, well-organized, and powerful. Michelle created necessary pauses to make the speech clearer; multimedia helped to present the information creatively and draw the audience’s attention to the theme. Michelle vividly emphasized her efforts and intentions and encouraged people to follow the same path.
Each main point of the speech was adequately supported by guidelines and actions that were already done to improve the US’s situation. Michelle used the personal example of establishing an organization in Chicago for young people who want to pursue a public service career. It was the most appealing and empathetical point of the speech, its culmination that was the most crucial and convincing (The Obama White House, 2009). Stating that it was the best time of her life, Michelle presented her experience and positive emotions that captivate the audience and establish trust.
The speaker created a speech with a personal style, which is powerful and confident. Michelle shared with the audience her emotions and feelings when she established a public service organization and referred to people using the “we” pronoun to emphasize her belonging to ordinary people in the US who have busy lives but can dedicate time to do something that would be greater than their personal life. She did not use direct questions and create immediacy because it was not appropriate for the First Lady’s speech, but she delivered the information in her unique and official way.
The conclusion summarizes the thesis; in the video, Michelle names a range of opportunities for people to choose from and serve American communities, depending on their interests, highlighting the freedom of choice in society, but a necessity to serve the country where people live. Finally, she announces the call to action to attract the audience and register on Serve.com to find community work options and help the President in 2009 to restore the state after the crisis (The Obama White House, 2009). The speaker uses adequate volume, eye contact, speech rate, and pausing. Michelle’s eye contact in the video is especially powerful because the video is recorded while sitting that exposes only the higher part of her body, and the head mainly, with potent facial mimic and direct eyesight.
As for recommendations that can be proposed to improve the speech, it can be suggested to use more gestures and show the upper part of Michelle’s body till the higher waist to help deliver the speech with meaningful gestures of hands and pose since sometimes feels that Michelle is an immovable statue. However, it is essential not to distance the eye contact that should be the most convincing. Some other examples of community service of other public figures could be added to the speech to appeal to more people and present diverse engagement in people’s activities. Nevertheless, Michelle’s personal example plays the most vital role in the address and is the most powerful that encourages people to do good for American society.
Reference
The Obama White House. (2009). First Lady Michelle Obama calls on you to serve. YouTube. Web.