One thing I've always admired about Barack Obama was the fact that he was such a good speaker. I'm not just saying that, I actually do think so. His speech to the students last week grabbed my attention an admirable amount of times, even as I dozed off or stared into the oddly interesting space beside the TV screen.
I remember a distinct moment, when I was busy with something in my hands, and I was only half listening. My ears perked up and tuned into Obama's voice as soon as he said, “Xbox.” He caught my attention and held it--according to plan, no doubt. In other words, he knew his audience. He knew that using long, dull words wouldn't make him sound any more exciting or smarter than a principal giving an announcement over the intercom. Obama would use familiar words, like “iPhone” and “Xbox” to lure students in.
During his speech, he is also able to connect with his audience, the students. No doubt, he thought ahead and knew what the students would think as they rolled their eyes at him. “There's no way we'll ever use what we learn in school in real life. It's a waste of time.” He addresses each academic subject--Math, Science, History, etc--and he applies them to possible careers in the future, answering the students' doubt with the fact that they have no excuse for skipping school or dropping out. He appeals to logic and, in turn, makes his speech more persuasive.
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