TTO2-ENA-2024/2025 - Soapbox Challenge

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Soapbox

Challenge

Soapbox Challenge Speech

Your speech will be 3 minutes (plus or minus 30 seconds) about a topic connected to the theme.

It has the following purpose or goal:

to inform, persuade, motivate or entertain. 

Before you start writing, decide what your goal is.

  

For the Soapbox Challenge

Length: 2.5-3.5 minutes

Score:

• Fluency
• Grammar 
• Vocabulary range
• Pronunciation
• Task achievement

Theme

The most underestimated problem I know.

Theme

You can choose and highlight an underestimated issue based on your own experience or research. This is likely not a widely recognized problem, such as climate change, unless the participant presents a compeling argument that it is still underestimated.

The problem may be personal or societal but must be significantly underestimated. In the speech, you can explain why the problem is overlooked, suggest solutions, or argue for increased awareness.

Task achievement

• Is your speech original  and clearly linked to the theme?
• Is your speech coherent and well structured?
• Are your main points made clear and do you gracefully transition between them?
• Can you hold the audience's time for the entire duration of the speech?

Schedule

• You get two lessons to brainstorm speech topics/the outline.
• Everything else you must do at home. 
• The speeches will start the first lesson after the break, speech order is tbd.

How to write a speech?

.

Introduction –

 The early minutes of a talk are important to establish your credibility and likeability. Personal anecdotes often work well to get things started. This is also where you’ll outline your main points.

Body –

Get to the issues you’re there to address, limiting them to five points at most. Then bolster those few points with illustrations, evidence and anecdotes. Be passionate: your conviction can be as persuasive as the appeal of your ideas.

Conclusion –

Wrap up with feeling as well as fact. End with something upbeat that will inspire your listeners.

Ideas for the topic 'The most underestimated problem I know'

What stood out to you in this speech? Good or bad.

What differences do you notice between these two speeches?

BE PERFECT ;)

P-ersonal anecdotes to bring your speech to life

E-motive language to persuade your audience.

R-hetorical questions to make your audience listen. 

F-igurative language such as metaphors and similes. 

E-mphasis through repetition and the rule of three.

C-omparison and contrast to make your points clear.

T-one of voice that is relevant and persuasive for your specific audience.

To make your speech better

• Give it rhythm. A good speech has pacing.
• Vary the sentence structure. Use short sentences. Use occasional long ones to keep the audience alert. Fragments are fine if used sparingly and for emphasis.
• Use the active voice and avoid passive sentences. Active forms of speech make your sentences more powerful.
• Repeat key words and points. Besides helping your audience remember something, repetition builds greater awareness of central points or the main theme.
• Ask rhetorical questions in a way that attracts your listeners’ attention.
• Personal experiences and anecdotes increase points and  connect with the audience.
• Use quotes. Good quotes work on several levels, forcing the audience to think. Make sure quotes are clearly attributed and said by someone your audience will probably recognize.