4th Period Obama Prompts Practice Paragraphs by Kathleen Przybylski

2025-09-23 16:15:48 UTC

Obama speaks about Rosa Parks and how she had a history with activism and was a strong independent woman without needing a role in politics, wealth, or popularity which outlines the importance of taking action. Obama also tells a story of how “Long before she made headlines, she had stood up for freedom, stood up for equality…serving in the local chapter of NAACP”. By telling this story Obama shows that even before Rosa became famous for the bus incident she still fought for her equality and freedom. Obama also brings up the NAACP, an organization that fights for colored people’s civil rights, which Rosa served in which shows her commitment to the cause. Eventually Rosa Parks and the bus driver “met again that winter evening in 1955, Rosa Parks would not be pushed. When the driver got up from his seat to insist that she give up hers, she would not be pushed.” By talking about this, it shows how she wouldn’t back down and give up. She would plant her feet into the ground and hold her place, no matter the consequence that awaited her.

27112110 — 2025-09-23 16:16:29 UTC

Obama conveys the message that no matter what your circumstances are you can achieve anything you desire through education and she makes this point using personal anecdotes. Obama explains that in America many people don't have a lot of money "including me and my husband-- we started out with very little." She continues to explain that nonetheless, "with a lot of hard work and a good education, anything is possible-- even becoming president." Obama includes this personal anecdote from her and her husband's life to show that it doesn't matter what your circumstances are, you can still be successful and do what you desire. She explains that her and her husband started out with nothing and very little money and they got as far as even becoming President. She implements that this was only possible through hard work and education, further strengthening her point that education is crucial for success.

2025-09-23 16:16:46 UTC

In his speech at Rosa’s memorial, Obama uses vivid diction to create an image of what not just Rosa, but all people in the Civil rights movement faced daily. Obama describes the conditions as, “rain and cold and sweltering heat,” pointing out that they persisted, “day after day, week after week, month after month.” He uses this description of harsh conditions to paint a picture for the audience of the situational context. He wants the audience to know that not only did these people stand up for their freedoms, they also had to do it while facing extreme external conditions. Obama emphasizes the bravery and perseverance of activists during this time by showing just how difficult the movement was. Furthermore, he uses a repetitional phrasing to emphasize their persistence. By using repeating phrasings while referring to time, it adds onto his point about the movement dragging on and on. He wants the audience to realize that the adversity faced by activists didn’t only last a few days. Instead, they had to persevere through years of hardship and fighting. This further emphasizes the image Obama wants to create of Rosa’s activism and why even the small protests, like sitting in the wrong section of the bus daily, add up to a greater movement and a change for the entire country. Obama highlights Rosa conditions, toils, and perseverance using vivid imagery as a way of showing his audience that Rosa’s activism along with many others, inspired a major cultural shift in the nation.

2025-09-23 16:17:52 UTC

Michelle Obama conveys her message of her expectations and hope for young people in the United States using a call to action. Obama wants younger generations to begin to be more involved in their country. As she gives her speech she mentions the importance of younger generations being involved, which she says needs to start “Right now, you need to be preparing yourself to add your voice to our national conversation. You need to prepare yourself to be informed and engaged as a citizen, to serve and to lead” (Obama 41-44). Through Obama’s expectations of the young people she conveys the importance of starting young to move forward as a country. She includes a call to action in hopes for people to take charge and make a difference. Obama encourages citizens to be proud of their American values and not abuse them as “This right isn't just handed to you. No, this right has to be earned every single day” (Obama 36-37). She elaborates to the audience that everyone must do their part in order to keep these rights, and to preserve and protect those freedoms. This encourages the audience to take action as they realize they may lose everything that was once previously worked for.

270714_7 — 2025-09-23 16:18:08 UTC

Michelle Obama conveys her message about expectations and hope by giving advice to young people of the United States. Obama explains to her audience, “You need to prepare yourself to be informed and engaged as a citizen, to serve and to lead, to stand up for our proud American values”. Obama encourages the young Americans to stand up for their beliefs. She wants to create a strong country by allowing people to have their own freedom and opinions. Her advice allows for young people to be determined to be the best they can be and reach their goals. Obama reveals that being engaged as a citizen can create a stronger community. Young people can express their own thoughts without fear.

2025-09-23 16:18:15 UTC

Michelle Obama focuses on connecting with the audience and creating a personal feeling “You see, our glorious diversity- our diversities of faiths and colors and creeds - that is not a threat to who we are, it makes us who we are.” Michelle explains that no matter what background someone comes from or what they look like everyone is able to accomplish what they put their mind to. Being different isn’t a harm to what someone is capable of doing. Michelle started with very little and worked her way up proving that having differences should not create an impact on the way we grow. Differences should be a strength that makes people come together and make them who they are.

27073117 — 2025-09-23 16:18:33 UTC

No matter your financial state, faith, or color you are able to accomplish whatever you desire and that anything is possible. Michelle Obama reminds her young audience “You see, our glorious diversity- our diversity of faiths and colors and creeds- that is not a threat to who we are, makes us who we are.”As a successful woman in the United States who did not come from much she gives hope to her young audience that becoming someone is possible. To help move the country forward, she wants to encourage the future generations to take action to their dreams. She wants the young generation to know no matter what their background is, it is important not to be discouraged by who they are.

2025-09-23 16:18:35 UTC

Obama concludes her speech by telling the audience that hope can be very powerful, and that young people need it to go through life. Obama has talked about how hope “has allowed us to rise above the voices of doubt and division” and further emphasizes this point by talking about her own family. She points out that people like her dad “who got up everyday to do his job at the city water plant” had hoped that “his kids would go to college and have opportunities he had never dreamed of”. By including a personal testimonial about her family, Obama emphasizes that hope is needed for everyone, no matter one’s status. In doing this, she evokes an emotional response from the audience. To add on, she shared something personal to the world, and by doing so, people may relate to her in that way. The more relatable one is, the more the message is going to stick with the audience. It makes her empathize with the audience, and since a political figure like her went through this with her family, then the audience will feel a sense of hopefulness, which is the goal Obama wanted to achieve.

2025-09-23 16:18:41 UTC

Barack Obama emphasizes Rosa Parks’ point of making a change, no matter how small, by calling out to the audience to take responsibility and go out and serve for what is right. Obama and Parks heavily stressed the importance of how real change is made, and it is “through countless acts of often anonymous courage and kindness and fellow feeling and responsibility” (Obama 80-81). This encourages the audience to all take part in changing the world for the better, because if an action as small as refusing to stand up from a bus seat can spark an entire movement, everyone’s actions combined can cause some serious change, and make life more fair for all people. Obama mentioned how it is because of an action like this, that he is able to stand there and give this speech. This is extremely motivational, and inspiring to hear. This choice to call for the attention of the audience to do something is very effective in conveying the point of this section of the speech. It easily energizes the audience to go out and do what is right and to stand up for what they believe in. Overall, Obama’s choice to include this call to action was a powerful move for his speech.

2025-09-23 16:19:01 UTC

To begin with, Michelle Obama speaking directly to her audience encourages them to take action and remember her words of motivation for success in their lives. Obama begins the speech by encouraging her audience to remember that they have a place and a purpose they should pursue in this country, no matter their background. She reminds young people that they shouldn’t let “anyone make [them] feel like [they] don’t matter or like [they] don’t have a place in our American story– because [they] do.” By using words like “our American story” and telling the audience that they do have a place in this country, Obama encourages growth within her young audience. The use of including the audience members in her dream allows the audience to remember their value as a citizen. Through this, Obama achieves her purpose of encouraging the audience to pursue an education and add to the development of their community and country. Towards the end of her speech, Mrs. Obama calls out specific members of the audience and provides an example for the rest of her audience. She instills perseverance and inspiration in young minds, claiming that their mindset should be fixed from a young age for better success in life. She says, “That is the hope of students like Kyra who fight to discover their gifts and share them with the world” (Obama 73). Obama stresses that obstacles are inevitable, and that people should fight to overcome them and know who they truly are. Speaking to her audience and connecting to them empowers them with the hope and hard work she wishes to see them put forth in the future. Believing in the American Dream, Obama wants everyone to have a chance, no matter what background they come from or who they identify as. Through hard work and assurance, people can be whatever they dream, regardless of the limitations others may place on them.

2025-09-23 16:20:04 UTC

Initially, Michelle Obama achieves her purpose of convincing people to go to college by mentioning her beginnings at the start of her speech. Michelle Obama mentions they ¨started out with very little.¨(14-15). Michelle Obama tells the audience that her and Barack Obama did not start out with much either. By telling the audience that they did not start out with much, Michelle makes her purpose more credible. The audience is more able to trust her because she has had similar experiences. This would lead to the audience feeling motivated, and feeling like they can also achieve great things from going to college. The creation of this motivation would sway people to believe Michelle when she says that college is beneficial.

2025-09-24 01:10:02 UTC

To begin with, Barack Obama repeatedly refers to when Rosa Parks was sitting on the bus refusing to get up, he does this in order to show the impact she had on the world from that point on and how she changed the world. In his speech, Obama establishes ethos by reminding the audience of Rosa Park’s widely known act of courage, placing an image in his listeners head of a turning point in history. He includes more factual information about how Rosa Park’s actions spark the Montgomery bus boycott, showing that her perseverance created change. By repeatedly using these facts Obama emphasizes Rosa Park’s strength of resisting injustice, showing the audience that as ordinary people they too can still make change. He also establishes credibility because he is giving straight facts about what occurred on that day and some of the results coming from the resistance. Obama highlights her courage during his speech to make it something tangible to the audience in the moment.

2025-09-24 14:36:37 UTC

To further strengthen his statement, Obama continues his speech by highlighting the profound impact Rosa Parks had despite her actions not being violent or extreme. By emphasizing Park’s quiet defiance by simply refusing to give up her seat being a catalyst for a nationwide movement, stating “Three hundred and eighty-five days after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, the boycott ended.” showcasing the polarizing effect that ordinary people can lead to extraordinary change. This rhetoric choice appeals to audiences moral responsibility, reminding them that great acts do not always manifest through radical actions, but rather in awareness of injustice, as he notes “we make excuses for inaction, and we say to ourselves, that's not my responsibility, there’s nothing I can do.

Rosa Parks tell us there’s always something we can do.”. In doing so, Obama not only honors Park’s legacy, but inspires the audience to be like her.