Brainstorming
The writing process is just that--a process! It moves back and forth, to and fro, side to side, and never in a neat, tidy line moving forward. Brainstorming is where you experience "brain vomit". All you ideas get down on the page regardless of how much they make sense or how good they are. It's great to have lots of options when you're still figuring out what your speech is going to become. Here are some tools to help with the messy stage of brainstorming.
choosetopic.docx | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
File Type: | docx |
basicoutline.docx | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Writing The Introduction
Introduction: The first paragraph of a speech. Needs to capture the audience's attention, make them want to listen, and prepare them for the speech.
Hook: Catching the audience's attention in a memorable way. Common examples include jokes, quotes, stories, fun facts, statistics, or an onomatopoeia. For example, if my speech was about how to become a president, good hooks could be:
Note: You have on average 3 seconds to make a good first impression; that's how long it takes your audience to judge you. Start with high energy and a great hook!
Purpose Statement: The reason you are presenting your speech. Examples include:
Connecting Statement: Giving the audience a reason to listen and care about the topic. Let's face it, not everyone cares about garden gnomes, Twilight, or NASCAR as much as you; so give your audience a reason to not tune out! Examples:
Hook: Catching the audience's attention in a memorable way. Common examples include jokes, quotes, stories, fun facts, statistics, or an onomatopoeia. For example, if my speech was about how to become a president, good hooks could be:
- Quote Four score and seven years ago, a no-name man from Springfield, Illinois became pretty famous just for talking.
- Fact George Washington was the only president to refuse his salary--so he made nothing after eight years of work!
- Jokes Did you know our first president was quite handsome? Yes, in fact, he was George-ous!
Note: You have on average 3 seconds to make a good first impression; that's how long it takes your audience to judge you. Start with high energy and a great hook!
Purpose Statement: The reason you are presenting your speech. Examples include:
- Today I am going to teach you how to tie your shoes.
- In the next three minutes I will enlighten you on the best methods for cleaning your canines.
- I can't wait to educate all of you on the best practices for changing a flat tire.
Connecting Statement: Giving the audience a reason to listen and care about the topic. Let's face it, not everyone cares about garden gnomes, Twilight, or NASCAR as much as you; so give your audience a reason to not tune out! Examples:
- Before you tune out, listen up. Just because you may not be drivers now, you don't want to be one of the 14% of teens who are injured or killed in their first year of driving from texting related causes.
- Not all of you may be a Twilight fans, but if you listen to my speech, there isn't a teenage girl you won't be able to woo with the dating tips Edward will share with you!
- While only 1 in 10 people in this room will be affected by cancer in our lifetimes, that number jumps to 1 in 3 among smokers. So listening to my speech might keep you safe--or even save your life.
teaching_introductions.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
grading_introductions.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Writing The Body
A speech has three parts: The Introduction (tell the audience what your speech is about), The Body (what the speech is about), and The Conclusion (remind the audience what your speech was about). If your audience leaves not remembering what your speech was about, it should be their fault, not yours!
Once you introduce the topic, it's up the body of the speech to explain it. The best ways to keep your audience on track.
Use clear transitions Your audience can't "see" a new paragraph, they have to "hear" it with words like First, Next, Finally, Also.
Have strong main point sentences Your audience needs to know what each section of your speech is about. Make sure you get right to the point before they "zone out". After all, the average person only pays attention 20% of the time
Use supporting details that relate the main point If you get off track, add unimportant details, or start to tell an elaborate story, your audience will get lost more easily. Remember my good hearted tip: When in doubt, pretend your audience is unintelligent! The simpler, more clear, and more precise you are, the easier they can follow :)
Research and facts are friends No room for opinions here--especially not your opinion! Your opinion is a great tool in a lot of situations, but to make a speech more reliable and accurate you need to look for facts from experts. The more you cite, the better your inform becomes.
Once you introduce the topic, it's up the body of the speech to explain it. The best ways to keep your audience on track.
Use clear transitions Your audience can't "see" a new paragraph, they have to "hear" it with words like First, Next, Finally, Also.
Have strong main point sentences Your audience needs to know what each section of your speech is about. Make sure you get right to the point before they "zone out". After all, the average person only pays attention 20% of the time
Use supporting details that relate the main point If you get off track, add unimportant details, or start to tell an elaborate story, your audience will get lost more easily. Remember my good hearted tip: When in doubt, pretend your audience is unintelligent! The simpler, more clear, and more precise you are, the easier they can follow :)
Research and facts are friends No room for opinions here--especially not your opinion! Your opinion is a great tool in a lot of situations, but to make a speech more reliable and accurate you need to look for facts from experts. The more you cite, the better your inform becomes.
main_points_vs_supporting_details.docx | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Research
Want to research your topic? Start with a search engine like Google or Bing. Then, use specific main ideas from your speech. Things like "cupcake recipes" and "skateboarding tips" will have better and more reliable results than "how to bake cupcakes" and "how to skateboard".
Avoid websites that allow anyone to post responses. Wikipedia, Wikianswers, Yahoo answers, and any kind of blog simply will not work. Even Answers.com can be misleading. Look for websites sponsored by the government, a school, or business. Try to find research articles and newspaper articles.
Avoid websites that allow anyone to post responses. Wikipedia, Wikianswers, Yahoo answers, and any kind of blog simply will not work. Even Answers.com can be misleading. Look for websites sponsored by the government, a school, or business. Try to find research articles and newspaper articles.
We won't be able to use MEL, but we can use scholar.google.com!
Writing The Conclusion
The average person only pays attention 20% of the time. This can mean students are literally zoned out for 80% of the day, but mostly it refers to selective attention. See the example below to understand what that means.
How do you combat your audience's inattention? By giving them many opportunities to hear the topic and main points of your speech!
Conclusion The last paragraph of the speech, typically used to review the speech and find a way to help the audience remember the speech
Restate Topic The first sentence of a conclusion, used to review the purpose statement of the speech
Restate Main Points The second sentence of a conclusion, used to review the main points or "big ideas" of the speech
Haunting Statement The last sentence of a speech, similiar to a hook, used to keep the audience thinking about the speech or topic after the presentation is over. Typically uses a rhetorical question, suprising fact, or grand finale.
Conclusion The last paragraph of the speech, typically used to review the speech and find a way to help the audience remember the speech
Restate Topic The first sentence of a conclusion, used to review the purpose statement of the speech
Restate Main Points The second sentence of a conclusion, used to review the main points or "big ideas" of the speech
Haunting Statement The last sentence of a speech, similiar to a hook, used to keep the audience thinking about the speech or topic after the presentation is over. Typically uses a rhetorical question, suprising fact, or grand finale.
conclusion_examples.docx | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |
how_to_speech_example_1.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Preparing for the Speech
You've learned the basics, applied knowledge at a basic level, and think you're ready to write your speech. Let's slow down for one more day! Download the PowerPoint "Review, Practice, and Prepare" (below) for instructions on today's lesson. Today is your day to see where you are, and get where you need to go.
review_practice_and_prepare.pptx | |
File Size: | 65 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Here are copies of the materials needed for "Review, Practice, and Prepare" activities:
how_to_speech_example_1.docx | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |
The above is being used in the "Introduction" sessions.
how_to_speech_example_2.docx | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |
The above is being used in the "conclusion" sessions.
The two downloads above are also being used in the "body" sessions.
list_of_topic_ideas.docx | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Browse through the options in the list above for the "Topic" sessions.
Self Revising and Peer Editing
Revising focuses on ideas and organization while editing focuses on sentence fluency, word choice, and voice. Conventions can be corrected through the process, but really become important during the presentation. Put all those together and you have the 6+1 Traits of Writing! Use the guide (below) to help guide the process.
selfpeeredit.docx | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Presentation
The last stage of the writing process and the 6+1 Traits of Writing, presentation is when everything comes together to finally fulfill the final purpose of your writing. In this case, to inform an audience about a topic.
informative_speech.docx | |
File Size: | 18 kb |
File Type: | docx |
It's always important to know how you're going to be assessed! Copies of rubrics are available in class, as well, just check on the back "Speech Assigments" board.