- Introductory Speech
-
Purpose:
The purpose of this assignment is to give you a “trial run” for presenting a
speech before you have larger speeches later in the semester. Remember, the
preparation for this presentation is supposed to be easy, so don’t make the
assignment harder than it is.
Point Value:
30 points
Topics:
You have five choices for the subject of
this presentation: the Coat of Arms (a speech about yourself), three books
you would want with you on a deserted island, 3 people you would like to
invite to dinner (living/dead, fictional/real), a sales pitch, or your pet
peeves. Choose the subject you’re most interested in and feel most confident
about. If you have trouble coming up with something to say for one subject,
try a different one and see if it’s easier for you. Be sure to prepare far
enough in advance to give you time to practice the speech several times
before the due date.
Length:
The target time for this speech is 3
minutes. Try your best to stay within one minute of the target time. Please
note that students who seriously violate this time limit will receive a
grade deduction (one minute or less, or five minutes or more constitutes a
“serious violation” for this speech).
Sources:
No outside sources are required with this presentation.
Visual Aids:
The use of a visual aid is not required
with this presentation, but you may consider using one to give the audience
something to look at and to help you keep your thoughts on track. The use or
non-use of visual aids will have no impact on the grade of the presentation.
Turn in: You will not need to turn in any paperwork for this
assignment, but you will need to bring your blank VHS videotape to class on
the day of your speech.
Assignment of Grades: Your grade on
this speech will be based on how well you follow the structural format
discussed in class, how adequately you've developed and explained your
ideas, and how well you orally present the material (conversational style,
eye contact, minimal distracting behaviors, etc.)
Due Dates: Please check the
appropriate Daily Schedule on the course Syllabus to
see the date your presentation is due.
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- Group Speech
-
- Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is twofold. First, it is
meant to give you more experience with the structure and presentational
style of public speeches. Second, this experience should help to teach you
about working in a group and help you to get to know some of your fellow
students.
Point Value: This assignment is worth 60 points total: 45
points for your individual presentation, 15 points for the group as a whole.
Time Limit: The target time for the group will be dependent upon
group size: 14 minutes for a 4-person group (approx. 3 ½ minutes person), 15
minutes for a 5-person group (approx. 3 minutes per person), 16 minutes for
a 6-person group (approx. 2 ½ minutes per person). A one-minute grace period
in each direction is granted. Please note that groups and individuals within
each group who seriously violate set time limits will have their grades
reduced. The reduction is dependent upon how seriously the time is violated
and on how the content of the presentation is effected by this violation.
Procedure: Each group will determine a topic for their
presentation. You may choose a topic related to communication, if you wish.
Be as creative as you like, but keep in mind that all members of the group
should be in agreement about the topic. Try to choose something that will be
easy for all the group members to discuss. Keep in mind that most topics
call for the use of sources. The group should decide the number of sources
appropriate for their topic. Last, divide your presentation among the group
members. The recommended method for doing this is for one group member to
provide an overview of what will be discussed (an introduction) as well as
present a section of the body of the speech. Two to four group members
(depending on the size of your group) will deliver presentations detailing
the main points of the speech. The last person will provide a small section
of the body as well as summarize and draw conclusions based on what was
discussed by the group.
Each individual’s presentation should be a whole, unified speech, able to
stand on its own even if none of the others had spoken. The overall group
presentation should also be a unified speech which includes all of the
elements a speech would have if only a single individual had presented the
speech.
Visual Aids: The use of visual aids is not required for this
presentation, however you may use them if the group deems it appropriate.
Their effectiveness or ineffectiveness will be evaluated as part of the
overall performance (which includes not using a visual aid when they would
have been useful to aid audience understanding).
Turn In: Print out the Group Speech Critique
and bring it with you on the day your speech is due. You will not need your
video tape for this presentation.
Assignment of Grades: Review the
Criteria for Evaluating Speeches to see how
individual grades will be assigned. Group grades will be based on the unity
of the group's presentation, the strength of the group's transitions, and
adherence to the time limit.
Due Dates: Please check the
appropriate Daily Schedule on the course Syllabus to
see the date your presentation is due.
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- Demonstration Speech
-
- Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to inform the
audience about a process. The assignment will give you a chance to show the
audience how to do something or how something works.
Point Value:
50 points
Length: The target time for this speech is 5 minutes, with a
one-minute grace period in either direction. Please note that students who
seriously violate this time limit will receive a grade reduction. This
reduction is dependent upon the seriousness of the infraction and how the
infraction effects the content of the speech. Also note that you will be
asked to stop if you hit the7-minute mark.
Sources: You are required to use a minimum of 1
source for this speech.
Visual Aids: The use of a visual aid is required for this
presentation. Make sure that you pick a topic that will allow for a visual,
and be sure to follow the suggestions for their effective use. The
attractiveness, usefulness, explanation and clarity of your visual aid will
account for 20% of your grade on this speech.
Turn In: Print out the Demonstration Speech
Critique from this website. Attach a bibliography of sources to the back
of this sheet. Refer to the Bibliography Guide for
examples of the bibliography format. Please note: students who do not have
the critique sheet will not be graded! Have your materials together and
ready at the beginning of class to avoid a 5% grade reduction! You
will also need to bring a VHS videotape to class with you on the day of your
speech. You are also required, for a separate grade, to write a critique of
another student’s speech.
Assignment of Grades: Please check
the Criteria for Evaluating Speeches to see how
these speeches will be evaluated.
Due Dates: Please check the
appropriate Daily Schedule on the course Syllabus to
see the date your presentation is due.
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- Informative Speech
-
- Purpose: The purpose of this speech is to inform the audience
about a topic you select. Be sure your approach to the topic is neither too
technical nor too simplistic for the audience. Keep in mind that students
who deal with challenging topics will receive higher grades
than those who speak on simplistic or trivial topics.
Point Value:
75 points
Length: The target time for this speech is 6 minutes, with a
one-minute grace period in either direction. Please note that students who
seriously violate the set time limit for this assignment will be penalized
when graded. The penalty is dependent upon the seriousness of the violation
and how it effects the content of the presentation. Also note that you
will be asked to stop if you hit the 8-minute mark.
Sources: You are required to use a minimum of 4
outside sources for this speech. No more than two of these sources can be
personal interviews. The dictionary does not count as one of the four. Use
no more than 1 encyclopedia (if any). Remember that you must give oral
citations of these sources during the speech!
Visual Aids: The use of visual aids is not required for this
presentation, however you may use them if you deem it appropriate. Their
effectiveness or ineffectiveness will be evaluated as part of the overall
performance (which includes not using a visual aid when they would have been
useful to aid audience understanding).
Outline: You are required to turn in a typed, formal
outline of the content of your speech for a separate grade. Be sure to
include a bibliography of your sources with the outline. Refer to the
Bibliography Guide for examples of the
bibliography format. The outline is a separate grade worth 30 points.
Turn In: Print out the Informative Speech
Critique form and the Outline Critique from
this web page. Attach your materials together in this order: Place the
speech critique on top, followed by the outline critique, preparation
outline, and then the bibliography. Please note: Students who do not have
the critique sheets will not be graded! Have your materials together and
ready at the beginning of class to avoid a 5% penalty! You will also
need to bring your VHS videotape with you on the day of your speech. You
will also be required, for a separate grade, to write a critique of another
student’s speech.
Assignment of Grades: Check the
Criteria for Evaluating Speeches to see how these
speeches will be evaluated.
Due Dates: Please check the
appropriate Daily Schedule on the course Syllabus to
see the date your presentation is due.
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- Persuasive Speech
-
- Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to significantly
challenge the values, beliefs, or behaviors of your audience through a
persuasive speech on a topic of your choosing. This is the “biggest” speech
of the semester. Success with this type of speech requires significant
effort on the part of the speaker in both research and presentation. I
strongly suggest you avoid the temptation to “blow it off” and wait until
the last minute to put the speech together. Believe me, lack of effort and
thought is blatantly obvious in persuasive presentations and will be
reflected in the grade received.
Point Value: 125 points
Focusing Your Topic: For this assignment, you should prepare a
persuasive speech that supports a clear, strong persuasive proposition. I
prefer you choose issue-oriented topics of some social
significance. In other words, avoid selling something or “I want my
audience to vacation in Florida” speeches. Keep in mind that you can’t
convert the converted as well. Topics such as “Exercise is good for you” and
“Smoking is bad for you” are such topics. Most reasonable people already
know these things to be true, so persuasion cannot occur with these topics.
Students who choose the “easy way out” by selecting topics which do not
significantly challenge the audience’s current beliefs or behaviors are
starting from a “C” grade (or average speech) and going from there. Keep
this in mind.
Length: The target time for this speech is 7 minutes, with a
one-minute grace period in either direction. Please note that students who
seriously violate the set time limit for this assignment will be penalized
when graded. The penalty is dependent upon the seriousness of the violation
and how it effects the content of the speech. Also note that you will be
asked to stop if you hit the 10-minute mark.
Sources: You are required to use a minimum of 4
outside sources for this speech. No more than two of these sources can be
personal interviews. The dictionary does not count as one of the four. Use
no more than one encyclopedia (if any). Remember that you must give oral
citations of these sources during the speech!
Visual Aids: The use of visual aids is not required for this
presentation, however you may use them if you deem it appropriate. Their
effectiveness or ineffectiveness will be evaluated as part of the overall
performance (which includes not using a visual aid when they would have been
useful to aid audience understanding).
Outline: You are required to turn in a typed, formal
outline of the content of your speech for a separate grade. Be sure to
include a bibliography of your sources with the outline. Refer to the
Bibliography Guide for examples of the bibliography
format. The outline is a separate grade worth 30 points.
Turn In: Print out the Persuasive Speech
Critique and the Outline Critique from this web
page. Attach your materials together in this order: Place the speech
critique on top, followed by the outline critique, preparation outline, and
bibliography. Have your materials together and ready at the beginning
of class to avoid a 5% penalty! You will also need to bring your VHS
videotape to class on the day your speech is due. You will also be required,
for a separate grade, to write a critique of another student’s presentation.
Assignment of Grades: Check the
Criteria for Evaluating Speeches on page 46 to see
how these speeches will be evaluated.
Due Dates: Please check the
appropriate Daily Schedule on the course Syllabus to
see the date your presentation is due.
