Grade Level: 9-12
Subject: Language Arts
A
wave of generally well-constructed and rehearsed speeches flowed
freely during the U.S. political party conventions in late August and
early September, 2008. Nearly every convention speech included some
inspiration, some undercutting of opponents, some explanation, and, of
course, attempts to persuade the American public to vote for a
particular candidate. Now that the conventions have ended and in the
days leading up to Election Day, many more speeches are sure to
come—on television, on radio, at community events, and as
webcasts and podcasts.
Political rhetoric is not the only reason for delivering or listening to a speech, though. In a variety of contexts, people rely on formal speech as a powerful communication tool for presenting and explaining information, debating controversial topics, expressing personal interests and stories, and honoring or thanking others.
Not all speeches are created equal, however, and crafting and delivering a good speech is hard work. Speakers must develop a speech that has a logical flow and is easy for listeners to follow. They must consider combinations of long sentences punctuated by short ones. Integrating imagery and emotional appeal is especially important for an effective speech.
During this week's lesson, you will get some tips for developing a good speech, as well as delivering that speech to an audience. You will also get a chance to watch and listen to good speeches delivered by other high school students.
An Overview
Get
started with an overview of The
Art of Speech at ThinkQuest. Jump into the Curriculum section,
where you can read through the chapters covering Communication in
general, The
5 Ws of Oratory, The
History of Oratory,
Speech
Writing, Presentation,
and Oratorical
Analysis. Check out the links for Competitive
Speech and Debate, if you are interested, and finish off
the first half of the chapters with Debate and Resolution
Analysis.
The next chapters get into the real "meat" of public speaking. In these, review Using the Trophy Model, Techniques for Better Speaking, Theater and Interpretive Oratory, Informal Speaking, Expository, Limited Preparation Speech, Business Speeches, and Audience.
Lastly, check out The Orator Timeline to read about some famous people with strong public speaking skills.
Get Coached
So, what does a good speech look and sound like? To help you answer that question, download and print copies of a Speech Evaluation Form (PDF). Then, visit Words That Shook the World. The site is a bit out of date, but check out Last Year's Winners to watch and listen to speeches delivered by the competition's winners (skip Jessica V. of Texas, as that clip does not play properly). The general challenge of last year's competition was to deliver a "Message for America." Use your evaluation form to analyze each speech. After watching all nine speeches, discuss with classmates which speech you liked the best and why. What was your favorite speaker's message?
You may also want to examine one or more speeches given
during the political conventions. Visit the Democratic
National Convention and the Republican
National Convention, and
pick a speech to analyze and discuss. In most cases,
both the video and written transcript of each speech
are available.
Now, get some coaching to help you prepare for your own speech. Watch a 12-minute video clip hosted at Google Video that explains the Types of Speeches and provides other useful tips for public speaking. Although you learned some of these tips at the previous Web site, this video will really help you see some of those concepts in action, and it emphasizes the importance of advance preparation.
As you watch the video, take notes on the tips and other points you find relevant, especially for your particular personality. Are you usually pretty quiet when you speak? Then make a note to have a friend help you check your volume. Do you usually keep your hands in your pockets when you talk? Then make sure to practice your speech using hand gestures or props that enhance your speech. And, of course, you must practice, practice, practice!
Newspaper Activities
Browse issues of The Sacramento Bee to identify a topic you care about. Using the speech skills you learned during this lesson, carefully craft a speech based on that topic. Follow the steps for carefully crafting the speech, including considering your purpose, audience, use (or lack) of props, and so forth. Do not forget to rehearse so that you feel relatively comfortable with your delivery. Finally, give your speech to a real audience. Have classmates use the Speech Evaluation Form to analyze your speech. Make sure to be attentive, objective, thoughtful, and constructive when evaluating your classmates' speeches. You can help each other to develop solid, lifelong public speaking skills that will come in handy not only in your school assignments, but also in your community activities and throughout professional career.
Online Lessons
Each week The Bee publishes a new online lesson for teachers, students and families who use the Internet and newspaper as learning resources. The lessons are tied to current events in the news and help learners extend their knowledge on a wide range of topics. Click here to return to the table of contents.