The art of delivering a good speech

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

Havo 5

The art of giving the perfect speech

Elements of a perfect speech

Goal

Your main task is to deliver a 4/5-min speech on the 2 novels you have read in H4 and in P1 of H5. You will discuss the novels’ theme, focusing on the main character’s struggle and relate them to contemporary issues/problems. . 

Structure and content:

• Your speech contains an introduction (catchy phrase, examples, anecdote), a body (character development, related to theme) and a conclusion (with punchline).

• Introduction in which you include which books your speech is based on. Make sure you attract your audience's attention by starting off with a question or a statement (not.... "my speech is about").

• Body in which you share some information about the content of books and in which you compare and contrast the development of the characters in the novels and relate them to the messages the writers leave us with (theme).

Structure and content:

• A conclusion about character development and your overall appreciation of the novels.

• Structure - no summaries of the books please - pick scenes that illustrate the characters' struggles and how they relate to theme.

• Your speech has a clear message and your opinion is illustrated with examples from the book.

• Your speech contains information that comes from you, so do not summarize.

Themes:

Family

Friendship

Racism

LGBT

War

Future

Good versus evil

Coming of age

Questions that you can answer in your speech:

• What conflict or situation are the characters in at the beginning?

• What do they do to get out of that situation?

• How does the situation relate to your theme?

• Which scenes in the book were crucial to determine the theme?

• How can both books be contrasted or compared?

• What is the novel’s underlying message?

• How can the books be compared to a current situation/issue in the real world?

TED secrets

Watch the video and answer the questions in the next 2 slides.

What is the most (only) important element of a good speech?

What are the 4 tips to construct this good speech?

Watch the following clips and make notes

Before the end of this lesson, you will all have given a one-minute speech. 

Your group will have given you feedback on your use of language, your pronunciation, your content and your presentation.

Speech about growing up

You are going to prepare a 3-minute speech about your own development. Try to answer the question how you have changed from a little kid to the adolescent that you now are.

Content of your speech

o Think about the start of your speech.

How can you engage the audience from the get-go?

o Describe your life as a little kid. What was your personality like? What were your friends like? You can use the character traits on p. 9. What did you like and dislike? In addition, describe the things you did as a child and what the relationship with your parents and siblings (brothers and sisters) was like.

o Describe your life as an adolescent. What is your personality like? What are your friends like? What do you like and dislike? In addition, describe the things you do and what the relationship with your parents and siblings is like.

o Finally, analyse the differences between you as a kid and you as an adolescent. Can you explain why you and your relationships are different?

o End with a bang: a deep thought about growing up, something funny, an interesting quote, …

Presentation and feedback

* Choose which clip each group member would like to present to the group

*Prepare a 1 minute presentation for your group

*Take turns in presenting

* Your group members will give you tips which you can then use to practice

What feedback have your group mates given you?

7 great presentation skills

Watch the video and mention the 7 elements

What are the 7 presentation skills?

1. Stand up and move around.

2. Speak out loud. 

3. Practice without the text.

4. Practice in the actual setting. 

5. Record yourself on video. 

6. Listen to an audio recording. 

7. Grab a test audience. 

8. Work with a coach.

Eight effective ways to practice your presentation

Analyse these speeches

Tying your shoes: Why is (or isn't) this a good speech?

Weekday veggie: Why is (or isn't) this a good speech?

Practice a speech in pairs

My Friend’s Fictional Life

In this activity, what you do is you get up in front of people (you can do it home by yourself as well) and you take one of your friends and you introduce them. However, instead of introducing them in the normal way you make up a fictional life for them.

So you say, hi this is Jane Smith, and she actually moonlights as a jazz pianist for the underground mafia. And you talk about her life, whatever it may be.

Practice in pairs

Something In My Wallet

You can use your own wallet or (if people are comfortable enough and happy to do it) you can get the wallet of the person sitting next to you.

Take an item out of the wallet and discuss what this item is and why it’s important for you or your neighbour and obviously you are trying to elaborate and make it funny as much as possible.