Barack Obama is arguably one of the greatest living communicators. It is no surprise, then, that he is featured in several Six Minutes articles as we seek to learn from his strengths.
Feature articles highlighting Barack Obama speeches include:
5 Speechwriting Lessons from Obama’s Inaugural Speech
Analysis and Opinions: Obama Inauguration Speech
2008 Election Night Speech Analysis – Obama and McCain
Speech Critiques – Obama, Democratic Convention 2008
If you could easily highlight key messages in your speech, would you do it?
If there were a simple way to be more memorable, would you do it?
If you could craft speech phrases that are more quotable, would you do it?
Epiphora is the key to spicing up your speechwriting. In this article, we define epiphora, cite several famous examples, and help you add this rhetorical device to your speechwriting toolbox.
You can’t give the speech of your life until you first give life to your speeches.
One way to breathe life into your speeches is to craft memorable phrases that will linger on the lips of your audience, and a great tool to help you achieve this goal is chiasmus.
In this article, we define what chiasmus is, study several famous (and not-so-famous) chiasmus examples, and give some tips for crafting chiasmus into your own speeches.
What if your speeches were more quotable?
What if your speeches were more powerful?
What if your speeches were more memorable?
Anaphora can do this for you. In this article, we examine how strategic use of repetition can elevate your speechwriting.
This afternoon, I watched Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech again. (You can find the full speech text and video, along with an extensive Six Minutes speech analysis here.)
I was reminded of the tremendous power speeches can wield. One cannot watch Dr. King or read his words without stirring emotions, even though the speech was given over 47 years ago.
Yesterday morning, I ran five miles on the treadmill. I greeted my waking wife and daughter with a hug. I enjoyed a delicious inauguration breakfast omelette. I checked email. And then I glued myself to the living room chair to watch what I believed would be the greatest speech of my life.
I wasn’t alone. All around the world, people were doing the same (well, except for the 5 mile run).
Many were expecting, hoping, and praying for the greatest speech of all time.
And was it? That is a question that is answered in the heart of each individual. It is the subject for endless water-cooler discussions. It is the topic for debate among thousands of journalists and public speaking experts.
Yesterday, I wrote about 5 speechwriting lessons we can all learn from President Obama’s speech (including the speech video and text).
Today, just as on election night and for the Republican and Democratic conventions, I’ve compiled a very small sample of the speech critiques, analysis, and opinions of Barack Obama’s Inaugural Speech. May the debate continue.
Some will argue that Barack Obama’s Inauguration speech was not his most electric speech, or that it failed to deliver on unreasonably high expectations.
Nonetheless, studying the speech provides five key speechwriting lessons that can help us all be better communicators.
This article is the latest in a series of video speech critiques which help you analyze and learn from excellent speeches.
I am a Bert Decker fan. I subscribe to his blog and learn from him often. I’ve got his books on my wishlist.
But, after reading his “Top Ten Best (and Worst) Communicators of 2008” list, I’m confused — how did he get it wrong?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008. History was made.
The immediate impact is tremendous, etched on the faces of millions as they watched the results and listened to the speeches. The longer-term impact has yet to be written.
While we can’t accurately predict the next four years, we can assess the speeches from election night. Both Barack Obama and John McCain received praise for their performances.
Watch the speeches, and then read the analysis from many sources.
The 2008 Democratic Convention was an oratory feast.
One by one, they spoke — Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Maya Soetero-Ng, Jesse Jackson Jr., and Ted Kennedy.
One by one, they were critiqued — by Nick Morgan, John Watkis, Bert Decker, Denise Graveline, Terry Gault.
This article is a collection of speech videos and numerous speech critiques from public speaking experts.
Watch, listen, and learn from their strengths and weaknesses. Enjoy!
Republicans? John McCain, Sarah Palin, and the 2008 Republican convention speakers are critiqued here.
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