Lesson 1: Elements of Effective Public Speaking
In this lesson, students will develop a list of essential traits for effective public speakers including verbal and nonverbal elements. Students will watch a video of Ron Paul delivering his “What If” speech to the United States Congress. An evaluation sheet is used by the students to evaluate his effectiveness focused on the traits discussed at the beginning of the class.
Lesson 2: Inflection and Stress
Students will consider the effect of inflection and stress in the effectiveness of a speaker. Students will use various stress and inflection while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and view examples of public figures reciting the same (Dwaye Johnson, Senator Giffords and President Obama). Students will mark their own papers for stress and inflection and record themselves demonstrating these techniques. Lastly, students will evaluate the effectiveness of the sample speakers by creating an audio file that shows effective recitation of each line.
Lesson 3: Analyze Written Copies of a Speech and Delivery
In this lesson, students will analyze the text of a speech for organization and purpose. Students view a video of John F. Kennedy delivering his Inaugrural Speech. They will chunk the text to reflect purpose and organization.
Lesson 4: Rhetorical Devices and Syntax
Using Martin Luther King’s speech with the famous line, “I have a dream” students will analyze the text for effective use of rhetorical devices and varied syntax. This lesson also covers appropriate use of passive voice.
A portion of the Purtian sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is used in this lesson, to analyze a speech for effective use of rhetorical appeals. The three basic appeals are discussed and formatively assessed.
Students will put together the lessons to evaluate a speech for good public speaking and speech traits. Using a printed transcript and a video of President Obama’s Victory Speech, students will mark text and use a speech evaluation guide to identify the quality of the speech.
Lesson 7: Analyzing Speech- Assessment
In this summative assessment, students will independently evaluate President Nixon’s “Checker Speech” for the aspects of good public speaking and speeches.
Brief Overview of Assessments
Formative Assessments
Student responses to the Speech Observation Sheet. (Learning Target: Speaking and Listening)
Student responses on the Pledge Feedback Form. (Learning Target: Speaking and Listening)
Student responses for understanding. (Learning Target: Analysis of Text)
Student work on active and passive voice for understanding. (Learning Target : Writing Style)
Student analysis of the sermon for rhetorical devices. (Learning Target: Analysis of Text)
Student work as they evaluate and discuss their analysis. (Learning Targets: Speaking and Listening, Analysis of Text, Writing Style)
Summative Assessment
Students’ work as they evaluate and discuss their analysis. (Learning Targets: Speaking and Listening, Analysis of Text, Writing Style)