Informative Speech: Writing a Speech on a Historical Figure( expository )

Resources:

Guidelines to Draft the Speech

Write the 1st draft of the speech. BE SURE TO INCLUDE-

  • Begin the speech with a question to grab the audience attention OR use a quotation by T.R. Or why should we talk about T.R. today a century later?
  • Give a one or two sentence overall review of T.R.’S accomplishments before transitioning to the narrative
  • Explain why the accomplishment of all accomplishments is the most outstanding to you.
  • Describe the narrative focusing on your topic and issue- details, speeches and actions- highlighting on his ” fight”  or ” battle” for what he believed in or his vision for the future( recreate a tableau or scene that illustrates his legacy). Almost include specific speech by T.R. ( can be a phrase or specific term TR had used to address the issue).
  • Yet, today… ( transition to the present)
  • Describe vividly( in details)  today’s issue in comparison to TR’s era.
  • What is the connection between the past and present( claim and analysis parts)?
  • How does TR’S legacy shed light on the issue?
  • What can we do as 21st century generation to continue with his fight and legacy?

Writing a Historical Narrative Independent Practice-

Use the following strategies to revise your speech.

  • State your purpose of your speech ( T.R)
  • Generate three claim statements that all relate to your purpose
  • Select appropriate and accurate details to illustrate your thesis ( organize your events into a narrative,or use anecdotes)
  • Make a list of events you may use and direct quotations that can be incorporated into your own speech
  • Establish logo: the way you organize your claims( order of importance or spatial order)
  • Establish pathos: making connections with your audience
  • Ethos: use a quotation by a famous person to back you your purpose ( thesis)

Resource Link:
http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/writing/history/assignments/narrative.html

Outline

Introduction

  • Attention grabber
  • Provide a critical and color summary of a particular aspect of Theodore Roosevelt’s you will be focusing on your speech ( use Marker verbs)
  • Why does it matter? Why do we need to know about the particular part of TR’s life or his accomplishment?
  • Thesis/Assertion( your purpose): Your insight into the TR’s life and accomplishments and what you want your audience to walk away from the speech.

First Body Paragraph ( the narrative)

A. First part of the lesson( claim) connected to your thesis

-Use your research to narrate the story you want to share with AUDIENCE

– How can you use specific anecdote to bring out pathos? –

Analyze the narrative about T.R. Is every detail included relevant? Does it move you in a way? Will it move your audience ( establish  a patho)

-How does this anecdote demonstrate TR matters in today’s society

B. Second part of the lesson ( claim) connected to your thesis

– Use your research to narrate the story you want to share with AUDIENCE

-How does this anecdote demonstrate TR matters in today’s society

Conclusion: So what?-Making connections with the current society or world

How does he use history to address the issues at present , such as Soviet’s nuclear threats, cold war and the US relationship with the Allies?

  • Find a quotation by T.R. that illustrates a point about the issue of your concern. Why?
  • What would T.R. say or act if he were to face the issue again?
  • Would you do the same or hope to do the same? Why?

How to reaccount a historical narrative for a speech and select details for the narrative?

Re-account historical details-

  • Do as much research as you can to gather details about the topic.
  • What details stand out the most for you and why?
  • Pick out the details that moved you and you want to share with an audience.
  • Recreate the narrative by describing the setting( what prompt T.R. to care about the issue-time and place and circumstances), what events surround the issue, what speech did he make, obstacles he overcame and results).  The details should indicate logical connections.
  • Does the same issue still exist? How is the issue described today? What inspiration had T.R.’s legacies help you see the same issue today?

Connect the past with present-

Issues:

Immigration:
TR’s era– Influx of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe.
– Gentleman’s Agreement dealing with Japanese immigration
Today– Influx of immigrants from Mexico
– Various proposals for amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Conservation:TR’s era– Resistance to presidential efforts to set aside western lands for National Forests, Reclamation Projects, Game & Bird
Preserves, etc.
Today– Efforts to reopen western public lands to development.
Balancing Labor with Big Business and Consumerism:
TR’s era– Mediating Anthracite Coal Strike
– Addressing consumer concerns for safer food.
Today– Balancing American labor demands with corporate need
to keep down labor costs by sending jobs overseas.
– Renewed concerns for food, especially meat, safety.
Anti-Trust Issues:TR’s era– 45 suits to break trusts that set prices/stop competition.
Today– Concerns and lawsuits, especially directed toward tele-
communications and computer technology corporations to
oppose domination of industry by a few companies.
Defining America’s Role in the World:TR’s era– Presidential use of mediation, international arbitration and
courts in dealing with international problems.
Today– America’s relationship with the international community,
especially with regard to the United Nations, the
World Court, the international arbitration of problems, etc.

Tracing TR’s Vision:
Theodore Roosevelt’s vision for the United States is reflected in his Progressive Platform for the 1912 presidential election. Although Roosevelt lost that election to Woodrow Wilson, many of TR’s platform goals were enacted into law under various administrations over the next fifty years. Ask students to use various sources to determine if/when (and under whose administration) the following 1912 Roosevelt platform articles were enacted.

Use the Resources and Guidelines to continue the collection of details about T.R. on a specific topic.