How to Make Speeches Like Barack Obama

Barack Obama has become a political superstar in part because of his famous speeches. He is often considered the best orator in politics, and even his political opponents do not deny his incredible oratory ability. To make speeches like Obama you will need a combination of language skills and people skills.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Use optimism in your speeches. Barack Obama often points out what he sees as huge problems, such as global warming, the war in Iraq and the American health care system. However, he always remains optimistic that these problems can be overcome. His famous "Yes, we can" mantra is an example of this.

2. Unite people with your speeches. Barack Obama uses the word "we" often but rarely "they." With his language, he seeks to be inclusive and bring people of all types into his campaign. This way, he avoids demonizing the opposition.

3. Keep your words and phrases simple. By using simple words instead of large words, Barack Obama keeps his speeches easy for all people to understand. This fits in with his strategy to be inclusive and not leave anyone out of his campaign.

4. Be general. Specific policy proposals with a lot of numbers can be boring to some people. Barack Obama keeps his speeches light on specifics and instead gives audiences an idea of what kind of leader he will be and attempts to convince people they can trust his judgment.

5. Add humor. Humor provides a relief from highly serious topics and usually makes a speaker more likable. An example of this is Barack Obama referring to the fact Dick Cheney is a distance cousin of his and saying "everyone has a black sheep in the family."

6. Inspire the audience with your speeches. Barack Obama uses his improbable success story to inspire people to believe anything is possible. He also often quotes inspiring public figures from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Resources

• Barack Obama on current issues.