Consider that you are a college student sitting down to write an academic paper on a topic that interests you. You have an idea of what you want to say, but as you stare at the blank page on your computer screen, you feel overwhelmed and stuck. This is a common scenario for many students. If you’re wondering how to use AI to write a paper, speech analysis examples can help. By seeing how others analyze speeches, students can better understand how to write their papers. This guide will help you know the five must-see speech analysis examples.
Conch’s AI writing tool can help you even more. It can take the stress out of writing your paper by generating content in seconds. With Conch’s help, you can quickly get to the fun part of writing your paper, organizing your thoughts, and crafting your final paragraphs.
What Makes a Speech Worth Analyzing?
Every effective speech has a clear intent. Why was this speech delivered? To inspire (e.g., commencement speeches)? To persuade (e.g., political campaigns)? To protest (e.g., civil rights or social justice movements)? To inform (e.g., presidential briefings or TED Talks)? Understanding the speaker’s intent helps you evaluate whether their rhetorical choices were effective.
Unpack the Use of Rhetorical Devices
Speeches often rely on rhetorical techniques to be persuasive and memorable. Here are a few examples:
Ethos
Builds credibility (e.g., “As a doctor, I know…”);
Pathos
Appeals to emotion (e.g., “Our children’s future depends on it…”);
Logos
Uses logic and facts (e.g., “Studies show a 40% increase…”).
Other devices include:
Repetition
(“I have a dream…” – Martin Luther King Jr.);
Metaphor
(“The torch has been passed to a new generation…” – JFK);
Anaphora
parallelism, and rhetorical questions.
Tip
Highlight lines that gave you chills or made you think — chances are, a rhetorical device was at play.
Consider the Audience & Delivery Style
A speech isn’t just about the words; it’s about who’s listening and how it’s delivered. Was it delivered to a live audience, broadcast globally, or uploaded online? Did the speaker change their tone or pace at key moments? Did they pause for effect or gesture to emphasize points? Practical Tip: Watch a video version of the speech. Note when the crowd reacts, that’s usually a rhetorical high point.
Analyze the Historical or Cultural Context
No speech exists in a vacuum. The background political, social, and cultural influences its tone, urgency, and content. Ask: What was happening in the world at the time? Was the speech responding to a crisis or movement? Was it controversial when delivered? Example: Greta Thunberg’s climate speech hits differently in the context of worsening global climate data.
Explore the Legacy of the Speech
The final trait of an analysis-worthy speech is its lasting impact: Did it shift public opinion or policy? Is it still quoted today? Has it inspired movements, laws, or generations? Example: Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address redefined American democracy in just 272 words and is still taught today, over 150 years later.
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Must-See Speech Analysis Examples (with Step-by-Step Breakdowns)
Repetition: The Power of “I Have a Dream”
Repetition is a powerful rhetorical tool that creates rhythm, establishes cadence, and emphasizes a key idea. In “I Have a Dream,” Martin Luther King Jr.’s use of the phrase “I have a dream” creates an almost musical quality, as the listener can predict the cadence of the speech and anticipate its next occurrence. This effect draws the audience in and builds their excitement for each successive statement, which paints a vivid picture of a hopeful future.
Allusions: Establishing Common Ground with Shared References
Allusions are references to well-known people, places, events, or pieces of art or literature. In “I Have a Dream,” MLK references the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bible to ground his message in shared American values. These allusions help establish his credibility and appeal to the audience’s sense of logic and reason.
Metaphor and Imagery: Evoking Emotional Responses
Metaphors and imagery create vivid mental pictures that evoke emotional responses. In “I Have a Dream,” MLK states, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” This rich imagery conveys the dangers of revenge and encourages unity instead.
Transitioning from Political Argument to Visionary Message
As you analyze the speech, highlight the transition from a political argument to a visionary message of unity and the future.
Tone Shifts: Hope Amidst Despair
Track how the tone shifts throughout the speech. He begins with historical injustice and ends on a hopeful aspiration for the future.
Pathos: The Emotional Appeal of Justice
Identify where pathos (emotional appeal) is strongest, usually tied to justice and children.
Watching the Delivery
Be sure to watch the video to observe cadence and body language.
Breaking Down the Speech for Analysis
Use a tool like Conch AI’s “Paraphrase” to simplify powerful but complex lines and rephrase them for analysis.
Structure Analysis: One Paragraph at a Time
Break down one paragraph at a time: identify the device → explain the effect → link it to the speech’s message.
Conciseness: Every Word Matters
“The Gettysburg Address” is only 272 words long, but every word matters. Lincoln’s ability to deliver such a powerful speech in so few words is a testament to the importance of concise writing.
Contrasts: Highlighting the Importance of Actions Over Words
Lincoln uses contrasts to make powerful statements. For example, he says, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”
High-Level Ethos: Aligning with American Ideals
Lincoln establishes a high level of ethos early in the speech by aligning himself with American democratic ideals rather than personal power.
Reframing the War: A Moral Test of Liberty and Equality
As you analyze “The Gettysburg Address,” examine how Lincoln reframes the war from military action to a moral test of liberty and equality.
Defining American Democracy
Notice how the phrase “government of the people, by the people, for the people” defines American democracy.
Rhetorical Power in Threes
Study the parallel structure and triads they create, as well as the rhetorical power in threes.
Mapping the Structure
What does the structure look like? Intro tribute call to action.
Extracting Key Themes
Use Conch AI’s “Generate from Selection” to extract key themes if you’re working from a textbook or transcript.
Focus Areas: How Brevity + Moral Clarity = Maximum Impact
Focus your analysis on how brevity + moral clarity = maximum impact.
Anaphora: Creating Defiance and Unity
In “We Shall Fight on the Beaches,” Winston Churchill uses anaphora to create defiance and unity. “We shall fight…” is repeated over 10 times in succession, creating a rhythm that turns the speech into a drumbeat of confidence.
Tone: Calm, Grave, and Unshakable
Churchill’s tone is calm, grave, and unshakable despite the chaos of war.
No False Optimism: Acknowledging Reality to Provide Resilience
Churchill doesn’t sugarcoat reality; instead, he provides resilience.
Turning Military Loss Into National Strength
As you analyze the speech, study how Churchill turns military loss into national strength.
Building Momentum Through Repetition
Observe the build-up of momentum through repetition — it turns the speech into a drumbeat of confidence.
Collective Language: Uniting the Speaker and Citizens
Identify the use of collective language: “We” unites the speaker and the citizens.
Studying Delivery: Pacing as a Rhetorical Tool
Watch or listen to Churchill’s deliberate delivery; pacing is a rhetorical tool here.
Breaking the Speech Into Three Parts
Break the speech into three parts: context repetition, vow of endurance.
Leading Emotionally While Remaining Rational
Ask
How does the speaker lead emotionally while remaining rational?
Personal Narrative: Building Ethos and Pathos
In “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie employs a personal narrative to introduce her speech, effectively building ethos and pathos.
Contrast: Perception vs. Reality
Adichie’s speech examines the damaging stereotypes that influence understanding and perception. Early on, she contrasts how she was perceived vs. how she sees herself.
Storytelling as Power: Controlling the Narrative
A key theme of Adichie’s speech is storytelling as a form of power; whoever controls the narrative shapes reality.
Using Humor and Vulnerability to Gain Trust
As you analyze the speech, observe how she uses humor and vulnerability to gain trust.
Structure: Anecdote, Cultural Observation, Moral Insight
Analyze the structure: anecdote, cultural observation, moral insight.
Real-World Examples: Challenging Intellectual Stereotypes
Identify how she uses real-world examples (e.g., her roommate in college) to challenge intellectual stereotypes.
Breaking Down Anecdotes for Analysis
What’s the surface story? What’s the hidden commentary?
Using AI to Help Summarize Arguments
Use AI to help summarize her argument structure if you’re short on time.
Reflecting on Your Own Experiences
Adichie’s message encourages you to reflect on your own experiences.
Raw Emotion: Powerful Use of Accusation
In her UN climate speech, Greta Thunberg opens with an emotionally charged statement: “How dare you!” This powerful use of accusation sets the tone for her address.
Juxtaposition: Shocking the Audience into Attention
Thunberg’s speech makes a juxtaposition between her youth and the power of her audience. This rhetorical imbalance draws listeners’ attention.
Facts and Data: The Importance of Evidence Amid Emotion
Despite raw emotion, Thunberg’s speech is packed with climate science references.
Anger as a Rhetorical Weapon
As you analyze the speech, study how anger becomes a rhetorical weapon; it’s confrontational, but rooted in justice.
Breaking the Speech Into Three Parts
Look at how the speech breaks down into: emotional indictment, evidence of damage, and challenge to authority.
Non-Verbal Delivery: Amplifying the Words
Look at non-verbal delivery, her pauses, tone, and stare amplify the words.
Analyzing the Emotional Appeal
Don’t dismiss emotional intensity
ask
What makes this emotion persuasive rather than off-putting?
Comparing with Older Examples
Compared with older examples like Churchill or Lincoln, how is the youth voice used differently?
AI for Speech Analysis and Writing Help
If writing your breakdown, try Conch’s stealth tools to ensure it passes AI detection checks after editing your drafts.
8 Common Things You Should Look Out for When You Get a Speech to Analyze
1. What’s the Reason for the Speech?
The first step in speech analysis is to examine the speaker’s purpose. Why was this speech given? Look for clues in the opening and closing lines. Is the speaker trying to inspire, warn, persuade, educate, or comfort? Understanding intent helps you frame the entire analysis. Pro tip: The purpose often determines which rhetorical devices the speaker chooses.
2. Who Was the Audience?
Next, identify the speech’s audience. Who was it directed at? A crowd, a nation, a specific group? How does the speaker address them formally, casually, or urgently? Look for phrases like “My fellow citizens,” “To the graduating class,” or “Dear friends…” The more tailored the speech is to its audience, the more effective it often is.
3. What’s the Speech’s Context?
Always research what was happening at the time.
Ask
Was the country at war? Was it a moment of crisis or celebration? What events led to this speech?
Example
MLK’s “I Have a Dream” hits harder when you understand it, followed by years of civil rights protests, and it came during the March on Washington.
4. What’s the Mood and Emotion?
Identify the overall mood of the speech:
- Angry?
- Hopeful?
- Defiant?
- Calm?
Watch for tone shifts mid-speech from somber to uplifting, or from calm to forceful. If available, always watch the video, vocal tone, facial expressions, and body language often reveal more than the words.
5. What Rhetorical Devices Are Used?
Look for standard devices:
Ethos
Does the speaker build credibility?
Pathos
Do they appeal to emotion?
Logos
Are facts or logic used?
Repetition, metaphor, rhetorical questions, alliteration, etc. Highlight specific lines where devices are used and explain why they’re effective.
6. What’s the Structure and Organization?
How is the speech arranged? Chronological? Problem solution? Point, story, point? Good speeches often build in waves from calm introduction to an emotional climax. Try outlining the structure in bullet points before writing your analysis.
7. What’s the Word Choice and Language Style?
Is the vocabulary formal or conversational? Are there recurring keywords, slogans, or phrases? Does the language suggest authority, intimacy, rebellion, or unity?
Example
Greta Thunberg’s “How dare you” speech uses direct, accusatory language to create emotional urgency.
8. What’s the Impact and Legacy?
What happened after the speech? Did it inspire a movement? Go viral? Spark debate? Look at how the media, the public, and history received it. Use tools like Conch’s “Ask AI” to summarize reactions or generate a quick paragraph on a speech’s impact if you’re short on time.
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