Your first speech is on a topic on which you are the world's foremost expert: you! Prepare and deliver a speech in which the audience will learn something about you as a person. This might be your life's story from beginning to now, relating a particular incident or relationship that gives insight into who you are, or some other approach. Speeches will be graded on creativity of content, preparation of content and delivery, and your projected "ethos" as a speaker.

A check list to use in preparing your speech

You will select an appropriate topic and provide your audience with important, interesting, and/or useful information about it that you have gathered through careful research. Speeches will be graded on topic selection, quality and structure of content, preparation, and presentation. You will complete a self-evaluation of your effort, as well as take part in a group evaluation process providing feedback on your own and other class members' presentations. Participation in these evaluations will also be part of your grade.

A check list to use in preparing your speech

This, too, will be an informative speech on an appropriate topic, incorporating all of the aspects of the previous speech, plus special attention to the use of presentation aids. You will prepare a file of attractive slides using PowerPoint software, save the file to a standard disk, and use this to accompany your presentation. These speeches will also be graded on topic selection, quality and structure of content, preparation, presentation, and evaluation, as well as on skillful use of the software tool.

A check list to use in preparing your speech

You will select an appropriate topic, conduct careful research, then prepare and deliver a speech designed to persuade your audience to change a particular viewpoint, adopt a certain attitude, or respond with a recommended behavior (i.e., write our Congressman, recycle our trash, vote for a candidate, etc.). Grading will take into consideration all previous criteria, plus use of effective use of language and presentation of supporting evidence.

A check list to use in preparing your speech

Using the skills you have learned so far you will select an appropriate topic that will entertain, inform, and/or persuade—but most of all, inspire your audience. Speeches must demonstrate attention to research and careful thinking. Speeches will be graded on topic selection, quality and structure of content, preparation, and presentation.

A check list to use in preparing your speech

Schedule for speeches

Prepare and deliver a brief ceremonial speech that introduces one of your classmates as he/she is to present their major Ceremonial Speech (above).

A check list to use in preparing your speech

Participation (150 points)

IMPORTANT! PLEASE NOTE: Attendance is required for this class. More than four unexcused absences will result in the loss of 100 participation points, effectively reducing your final point total by one full letter grade. Someone is investing large sums of money in you so that you may attend this college. Therefore, maximizing the benefit of this opportunity should be your primary occupation during your time here.

 

If your absence for any class session is unavoidable for ANY reason, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor IN ADVANCE -- either in person, by phone (voice mail), or via e-mail -- in order to be excused, just as you would notify your employer if you were to miss work.

Each critique is to be at least three, but no more than four standard pages (double spaced typed, 12 pt. font with one inch margins all around on each page).

• Attend three scheduled on-campus lectures or other formal speaking events and write a critique of the speaker's content, organization, presentation style, and adaptation to his/her audience. No more than one of these should be a Sunday sermon or Chapel talk.
• Attend Communication/ Linguistics Senior Paper Presentations and write a similar critique on one of the presentations given by a Senior Communication major (presentations scheduled for Sunday afternoon, Nov. 17).
• Write a self-critique based on one or more of your taped speeches.

Some Suggested Questions for a Speech Critique:

1. What was the nature of the public speaking event? What was the general function and purpose of the speaker's presentation? Was it appropriate given that event and the audiences' likely expectations?
   
2. Did the speaker establish a clear thesis? If so, what was it? If not, what did you guess it to be? What were the speaker's main points? Were they appropriately previewed in the introduction?
   
3. How did the speaker develop his or her æthos? In what ways did the speaker establish credibility, integrity, likeability and forcefulness in the presentation?
   
4. What types of major supporting materials were utilized? Were the main points well supported with facts, figures, testimony, examples, or narratives? Were a variety of supporting materials used, and were oral citations employed to make them credible?
   
5. Were the speaker's main ideas easy to follow? Were they organized into a coherent design? Did the speaker use transitions well?
   
6. Did the speaker gain attention with the introduction, and provide a sense of closure in the conclusion?
   
7. Was the speaker's presentation style effective? Did she or he speak extemporaneously, from memory, or from a teleprompter or manuscript? Did he or she make good eye contact, and did movements and gestures complement the tone of the message? Was his/her voice loud enough to be heard and varied enough to enhance the message?
   
8. Did you observe any significant audience behaviors? Were there examples of good and poor listening, or different types of feedback? Were there specific audience behaviors that posed a significant challenge to effective speaking (heckling, talking and making other noises, coming and going, etc.)? If so, how did the speaker deal with these, and what alternative strategies for dealing with such challenges might you suggest?
   
9. What constructive advice would you give him/her for future presentations?
   
10. In general, what do you think were the strongest and weakest aspects of the speaker's presentation?