(Writing a) speech

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

(Writing a) speech

We will be looking at speeches now and speeches need rhetoric. 

First of all, remember ‘ethos, pathos and logos’? 

They are needed in speeches too, 

Ethos

Pathos

Logos

 an appeal to emotion, an attempt to evoke either positive or negative emotional response in the consumer

 an appeal to logic or reason; gives you the evidence and statistics, "straight facts" about the product

an appeal to credibility or character; will try to convince you that the company is more reliable; involves endorsement from reliable experts

(Writing a) speech

Furthermore, you should be able to use some other rhetoric too: 

Tricolon: ‘rule of three’. Three parallel words, clauses or phrases which come in quick succession, without any interruption. Eg. “I came, I saw, I conquered”

Anaphora: ‘repetition’. “If there’s a child…., If there’s a senior citizen, If there’s….”

Antithesis: showing contrast. “There’s not a liberal America and a conservative America, there’s the United States of America.” 

Leonardo DiCaprio's speech

Now watch the following video and answer the questions on the hand-out

Greta Thunberg’s speech to the UN

What are your thoughts on Greta Thunberg? Explain.

Read and watch Greta’s speech at the UN.

What speech rhetoric does she use? Highlight these.

Does she address her audience? In what way?

What kind of words does she use to convey her message? Eg. Positive, negative? Give examples.

Do you feel her speech will be effective

If you compare her speech to Leonardo’s, which do you think is better and why? 

Greta Thunberg’s speech to the UN

What speech rhetoric does she use? Highlight these.

Does she address her audience? In what way?

What kind of words does she use to convey her message? Eg. Positive, negative? Give examples.

Do you feel her speech will be effective

If you compare her speech to Leonardo’s, which do you think is better and why? 

Write a speech of 350 words on a ‘sharing the planet’ sub-topic. 

Explore the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals and communities in the modern world:

- The environment

- Human rights

- Peace and conflict

- Equality

- Globalization

- Urban and rural environment

- Ethics

context, audience, purpose 

* the context will describe a situation in which a particular type of message is to be communicated orally - this situation will not only specify the type of audience, but also the expected behaviour of the audience (e.g. whether the audience expects simply to be informed, or to be challenged, or required to make a choice...etc). The subject matter, and how it is best presented, will also be influenced by this general context

context, audience, purpose 

* the audience can generally be assumed to be reasonably educated and informed, and capable of understanding sophisticated language (unless some particular audience is specified in the task)

context, audience, purpose 

* the purpose of the text will be some mixture of 'inform' and 'persuade' (with perhaps a good dash of 'amuse & entertain' for rhetorical purposes!)

register and tone 

* will use a semi-formal to informal register

* will have an appropriately serious tone

conventions

* will address the audience and keep contact with them throughout (eg use         of “we” and “you” etc)

* will set out to catch the audience’s attention at the beginning, and leave a        clear impression at the end

* will include elements of speech rhetoric eg rhetorical questions, repetition       etc.

Appropriate?

A Speech / Presentation will be appropriate if the task requires you to present your ideas personally, on a public occasion. The task will usually make clear the context and the audience (for example, talking about a major change in your school, to an audience of fellow students). It will be appropriate to make a speech if you are required to interest, or motivate, or inspire your audience, by using vivid rhetoric and direct interaction with the audience. 

Not to be confused with...

''opinion column' or 'proposal' or 'brochure / leaflet' 

* an 'opinion column' is usually focused on one particular issue, which is explained convincingly and the final opinion argued reasonably - and because an opinion column is read, it is more appropriate for quiet reflection, rather than the dramatic persuasion expected in a speech.
* a 'proposal' is intended to present some kind of project formally, based on facts and figures, for serious discussion with a particular audience. 

* a 'brochure / leaflet' may be used to present your ideas, but rather if you want the ideas to reach a wider group of people than could attend a speech

Basic Format:

- 'address' established : direct address to audience at the beginning

- 'address' maintained : use of the pronouns 'you' and 'we' to maintain direct      links with the audience ? … and/or, how consistently?

- clear opening / introduction : statement of purpose

- appropriate closing / conclusion : summary of case / point

Approach:

> 'MAP' Does the student aid the audience's understanding by giving an early summary, or 'map', of what is going to be said?

Approach:

> 'MAP' Does the student aid the audience's understanding by giving an early summary, or 'map', of what is going to be said?

> lucid development: How clearly does the script present ideas in order to explain, and/or impress? This will be based on sensible paragraphing, but the paragraphs should be emphasised and supported by 'oral paragraphing' i.e. cohesive phrases which will convey structure in speech. 

Approach:

> 'MAP' Does the student aid the audience's understanding by giving an early summary, or 'map', of what is going to be said?

> lucid development: How clearly does the script present ideas in order to explain, and/or impress? This will be based on sensible paragraphing, but the paragraphs should be emphasised and supported by 'oral paragraphing' i.e. cohesive phrases which will convey structure in speech. 

> cohesive devices: How clear is the use of sequence markers to guide the audience? 

Sequence Markers

Approach:

> opening & closing: How forcefully does the script catch the audience's attention at the beginning, and leave a clear impression at the end?

Approach:

> opening & closing: How forcefully does the script catch the audience's attention at the beginning, and leave a clear impression at the end?

> rhetoric: To what extent, and how effectively, are common rhetorical techniques used? Such as – rhetorical question … references … metaphorical tropes … irony … exaggeration (understatement?) ... etc etc

Write a speech of 350 words on

a ‘sharing the planet’ sub-topic. 

Explore the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals and communities in the modern world:

- The environment

- Human rights

- Peace and conflict

- Equality

- Globalization

- Urban and rural environment

- Ethics