Our Speech on Educational Costs

Obviously looking back on our primary school days, it seemed easy. But not so much for our parents. We all wanted to go on every single trip the school provided and we didn't want to be left behind. So inevitably, our parents had to pay. With constant competition against our friends, it was a struggle to keep up with the latest craze. Heelies, tamagotchis and the newest DS' - our parents had to fork out so much money to keep us happy.
In school, everyone has to wear the same uniform, and schools insist that everything is compulsory, right down to the aprons. If a school polo shirt costs £8, and you buy three a year for your twelve years at primary and secondary school, that's £288 for just the polo shirts, let alone the trousers, jumpers and PE kits. If you are someone who always had school dinners as opposed to packed lunches, you'll know how expensive lunch can be. It would roughly cost £4680 for school dinners for your entire time in school. Your parents also have to pay for your stationary and books in order for you to have everything you need, and any parent can tell you that none of that is cheap when you add it all up. 
But it only gets worse when you start Sixth Form College. It only gets worse when you’re stuck in between childhood and adulthood. It only gets worse when you want to be independent, but are still dependent. Everyone wants a part-time job when they leave school but how are you expected to be available the hours your inconsiderate boss wants you to be? It’s not possible. You can either earn the money and watch your grades fall like Autumn leaves or ask your parents to pay for your new car or your festivals in the summer and put the job to one side. Not to mention the travel costs of getting to college. The First bus pass costs £455 per year – that’s just under £1000 spent on travel alone. 
The thousands of pounds your parents have just spent will feel like nothing when it hits University time. Do you have £9000 to spare? For one year in University, that's how much it currently costs, regardless of the course you decide to take. On average, accommodation costs £150 per week, which is £600 per month. Total up food costs of £200 a month and other necessities, you end up spending over £15,000 for each University year. 
Do you think it’s fair that to succeed in life, or even just to conform to the norms and values of education, this amount of money should have to be spent? If the government wants people going to university, then they need to be prepared to be realistic with these fees. We can’t go on paying £9000 a year, racking up debts over £27,000.We want change and we want it now! In the future we want everybody to have the opportunity to go to university. Nobody should miss out. Nobody will, if you help to support us by signing our e-petition at epetition.direct.gov.uk.

Obama's 2008 Acceptance Speech - analysis

Obama’s speech is both political and personal because although it is received in a political circumstance due to his election, it is also personal to him and the nation he is addressing. This is due to the fact he is the first black President in America and is not only an achievement of his own, but one that America welcomed and found incredibly empowering. This is why his acceptance speech is very influential and Obama opens the speech by asking, “if there is anyone out there, that still doubts that America is a place where anything is possible… tonight is your answer.”

Obama has all the control in the speech and no one else speaks (aside from cheering). He keeps a positive face throughout as although he has been chosen by the people, he still has to prove himself and therefore still needs to be liked and appreciated.

The speech keeps a high level of formality and intelligent vocabulary is used throughout, however the formality changes when he discusses his family personally, such as mentioning getting a puppy for his daughters. He alternates address so while the majority of the time he is speaking to the audience, he specifically thanks and mentions certain individuals and speaks directly to them. He uses specialist vocabulary, explicit to American’s, for example, when he is discussing historical events or places in the country that only American’s themselves may know. Due to the nature of the speech, unity and bonding is essential for its success. Obama constantly discusses America as one union and lists all types of people to make his audience feel included. This technique works alongside personal pronouns such as “we” and “us.” He uses these techniques to make the language emotive and personal – especially when he continuously mentions historical events and uses personal anecdotes. The events make the audience feel more united due to all the struggles they have endured together and reminds them that Obama is there to improve things, therefore he is a symbol of hope to them and of course, incredibly powerful.

Another technique he uses is anaphora at the beginning when he began each paragraph with “it’s the answer”. Although the speech is structured into paragraphs, Obama speaks slowly and clearly, and often pauses so the audience has a chance to take everything in. In these moments, the audience usually applauds which highlights his influential power.