In this activity, students will have the opportunity to read, hear, and analyze Barack Obama's speech "The Audacity of Hope".
Students may listen to the speech or read the text.
After listening to the speech and reading the text, the teacher may lead the students in a discussion about its themes and meaning. Students will then create a storyboard listing at least three themes or central ideas they found in the speech. They will write the theme in the header, cite an example from the speech in the description box and include an illustration that depicts the theme.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: After listening to/reading and discussing the speech "Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama, illustrate three themes or central ideas present in the speech.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Name at least three themes, cite examples of each theme from the speech, illustrate each theme.
Support students by offering step-by-step guidance as they identify and analyze themes, ensuring all learners can access and understand the speech.
Demonstrate how to spot a central idea by reading a short passage aloud and verbalizing your thought process. Show students how you connect evidence to a theme.
Offer sentence frames such as, "A theme I noticed is..." or "An example that shows this theme is..." to help students organize and express their thoughts clearly.
Encourage peer talk by having students share their theme ideas and supporting evidence with a partner before creating their own storyboard sections.
Display completed storyboard samples or visual icons for common themes to inspire and guide students as they illustrate their own.
Barack Obama's 'The Audacity of Hope' speech explores themes such as hope for the future, unity across differences, and the importance of civic engagement. These central ideas encourage listeners to believe in positive change and work together for a better society.
Students can analyze a primary source by reading or listening to the speech, identifying key themes, citing specific examples from the text, and illustrating their understanding through storyboards or creative visuals.
An effective way is to have students discuss the speech's meaning in groups, identify major themes, create storyboards with examples from the speech, and use illustrations to demonstrate their understanding.
Citing examples helps students support their analysis with evidence, strengthens their critical thinking skills, and ensures their understanding is based on the actual content of the speech.
Students can use storyboards, drawings, digital illustrations, or symbolic images to visually represent the themes, helping to deepen their engagement and comprehension of the speech.