Identifying the Speaker’s Position
and Supporting Evidence

When you read transcripts of speeches, you have the opportunity to write notes in the margins and return as many times as you like to reread the material. Listening to speeches can be more challenging because you might have only one opportunity to hear the speech. Also, the speaker may speak too quickly or too softly or in some other way that is difficult to follow. You need strategies to help you follow a speech and evaluate the speaker’s position and supporting evidence.

When you analyze speeches, following a set of steps helps. The first step occurs before you listen to the speech. You consider the speaker, the context of the speech, and the audience as you make predictions about the speech.

Here’s a list of questions you can use to help make predictions.

Pre-speech evaluation

Speaker	Who is the speaker?	Based on what I know about this person, what can I predict?
Context	Where is the speech taking place? When is the speech being given? What are other speakers saying?	Based on the speech’s location and time, what can I predict? Based on the content of other speeches, what can I predict?
Audience	Who is the audience for the speech? What larger audience or audiences are not in the room? Who might make up the audience(s)?	Based on the audience(s) of the speech, what can I predict?

Considering these questions can reveal quite a bit about a speech. For example, if the speaker is a U.S. Representative, the speech is taking place at the House Chamber, and the House of Representatives is considering a bill about minimum wage, you can infer that the audience includes other legislators. You can also predict that the speech concerns the minimum wage. Furthermore, if you know that the speaker has been a strong proponent of increasing the minimum wage, you can predict that the speaker’s position will be in favor of raising the minimum wage.

Let’s try this strategy with the 2004 keynote address that made then-future President Barack Obama famous. Most Americans had never heard his name before the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. At the time, he was campaigning to become a senator in Illinois. His impassioned speech caught the attention of the nation and led to his presidential campaign in 2008.

Think about what you know about President Obama. Consider what you know about campaigns and political party conventions. Think about who was running for president in 2004. Consider what you know about the Democratic Party. Use the information you already know about the context of the speech to answer the following questions. You can copy and paste the questions from the pre-speech evaluation table (repeated below) into your notes, and then write your responses. When you are finished, check your understanding by clicking on each question in the chart.

Speaker	Who is the speaker? President Obama was a candidate for Senate. He is now president. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Close	Based on what I know about this person, what can I predict? His speech will directly or indirectly convey the ideals of his political party. His speech will be persuasive enough that he will gain enough support to be later voted President. His speech will concern Democratic values such as change, energy, jobs, or health care. Close
Context	Where is the speech taking place? 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston. Close What are other speakers saying? Other speakers were likely discussing issues Democrats value. Other speakers were likely discussing support for specific Democratic candidates or support for Democrats in any elected office. Close	Based on the speech’s location and time, what can I predict? Because it took place at the Democratic National Convention, you might predict he will try to convince people to vote for Democrats in general. Because it took place in 2004 when John Kerry was the Democratic candidate for president, you might predict that Obama will express his support and will try to convince people to vote for John Kerry. Close Based on the content of other speeches, what can I predict? You might predict that the content will also concern issues of interest to Democrats and the importance of electing Democrats in general. Close
Audience	Who is the audience for the speech? You might predict that the audience will be made up of Democrats who are attending the convention. Close What larger audience or audiences are not in the room? Who might make up the audience(s)? You might predict that Americans watching the convention on TV or the Internet are another audience. This audience is likely very diverse. Close	Based on the audience(s) of the speech, what can I predict? Because it was given at the Democratic Convention, it will have a positive effect on the audience. Close

Now that you’ve used your knowledge of the speaker, context, and audience(s) to make some predictions, you are ready for the second step: listening to the speech.

The Speech evaluation table that follows prompts you with ways to listen carefully to a speech to understand and evaluate its content. Download a PDF file of this Speech evaluation table so that you can follow along and write or type your responses to the questions as you listen. When you are finished, check your understanding.

Speech evaluation

Introduction	How does the speaker get the listener’s attention—a joke, a story, a controversial statement, statistics? What tone does the speaker have at the beginning of the speech? Does the speaker state his position or main idea at the beginning of the speech?
Body	What support does the speaker present in each section of the speech? What does the supporting evidence suggest about the speaker’s position? Does the speaker present any opposing ideas? What tone does the speaker use? Is it motivating and upbeat? Does he seem concerned? Does the speaker’s tone change during the speech? If so, when and why? What allusions does the speaker make during the speech? What position do the allusions support? What anecdotes does the speaker tell? What position do the anecdotes support?
Conclusion	Does the speaker state his position at the end of the speech? What is the speaker’s tone at the end of the speech? What does the speaker hope listeners will do as a result of the speech?

Are you ready to listen to the speech? Click the link below to begin.

Democratic National Convention 2004 Keynote Address delivered by then-future President Barack Obama

Welcome back! Did you have enough time to answer the questions on the speech evaluation table? You can listen to the speech again if you like. Here’s how you might have responded to some of the questions:

Introduction	How does the speaker get the listener’s attention—a joke, a story, a controversial statement, statistics? He gives his own family history. Close What tone, or attitude, does the speaker have at the beginning of the speech? He’s proud and optimistic about the United States. Close Does the speaker state his position or main idea at the beginning of the speech? He states that he and the audience are there to affirm that the United States is great. Close
Body	What support does the speaker present in each section of the speech? He describes what makes the United States great, including freedoms, equality, and tolerance. He talks about changes that would make the country better, including keeping jobs in the United States, better healthcare, and educational opportunities. He talks about Americans’ willingness to work. He talks about John Kerry’s experience and beliefs. He talks about our obligations to soldiers and to each other. He ties back to John Kerry. He talks about American unity. He talks about hope. Close What does the supporting evidence suggest about the speaker’s position? The speaker believes in the strength and future of the United States because of its great history. Close What tone does the speaker use? Is it motivating and upbeat? Does he seem concerned? He begins and ends very upbeat and hopeful. Close Does the speaker’s tone change during the speech? If so, when and why? His tone changes a bit when he talks about some of the challenges we have. Close What allusions does the speaker make during the speech? He alludes to the Declaration of Independence by quoting from it. He reminds us about slave songs, immigrants, and soldiers in Vietnam. He also alludes to the 2000 election results. Close What position do the allusions support? The allusions support the position that the United States is great and that there is reason for hope. Close What anecdotes does the speaker tell? He tells of people struggling in the United States He tells a story of a soldier. Close What position do the anecdotes support? The stories give examples of some of the problems people in the United States face. The stories lead into how Kerry will help the nation. Close
Conclusion	Does the speaker state his position at the end of the speech? Yes. He states, “America, tonight if you feel the same energy that I do, if you feel the same urgency that I do, if you feel the same passion that I do, if you feel the same hopefulness that I do . . . then I have no doubt that the people will rise up in November, and John Kerry will be sworn in as president, and John Edwards will be sworn in as vice president, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come.” Close What is the speaker’s tone at the end of the speech? The tone is uplifting, hopeful, and excited. Close What does the speaker hope listeners will do as a result of the speech? He hopes they will support and vote for Kerry and Edwards. Close

Using your notes, respond to these questions. Check your understanding when you’re finished.

1. What is Mr. Obama’s position in his speech?


2. Which supporting evidence best supports Mr. Obama’s ideas?

Check Your Understanding

Sample Responses:

1. His position is that by electing John Kerry and John Edwards, Americans can have hope for a better day.


2. The best support is all the details of John Kerry’s beliefs.

Close

Now, using your notes and the speech evaluation chart that you completed, write a summary of the speech. Be sure to include the title and speaker’s name, the speaker’s position, and his most important supporting evidence. If your summary doesn’t fit into the field provided, shorten it, retaining only the most essential details.

Click below to see another viewer’s summary of the speech.

Check Your Understanding

Sample Responses:

Barack Obama’s 2004 Keynote Address at the Democratic Convention is a message of hope. Mr. Obama begins by sharing his family history as an example of how the United States provides opportunity for all. He shares what he believes is great about the United States but explains that we have room for growth. He shares anecdotes of Americans who suffer because their jobs have been sent overseas, Americans who can’t get proper healthcare, and Americans who can’t afford an education. This leads to his solution to problems. Mr. Obama summarizes Senator John Kerry’s experience and gives examples of Senator Kerry’s beliefs including job growth, healthcare coverage, energy independence, constitutional freedoms, national security, care for neighbors, and unity. Mr.Obama ends with his position that Senator Kerry brings hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Close