Week 4

Session 1

  1. Reflect on the characteristics that are effective in delivering the speech based on the 1st performance
  2. Reflect on the characteristics or style of a well-written speech ( consider the speech you heard that worked)
    • Purpose
    • Audience
    • Speaker’s Persona ( A write’s persona is socially constructed )
    • Situation
    • Language
    • rhetorical appeals

3. My Goals for the next speech

4. Introduce the Theodore Roosevelt Speech Competition-Selecting a Topic

Session 2: Selecting a Topic ( chapter 5)

  1. Read the following and discuss how we can use the information to help us select the topic

“Theodore Roosevelt believed in working hard, in persevering in the face of defeat, and in pushing to do better and strive harder to accomplish one’s goals. He also believed in developing young people, in challenging them to achieve as much as possible, and in recognizing their accomplishments.

In that spirit, the Theodore Roosevelt Association created Theodore Roosevelt Public Speaking Contests, which challenge high school students to develop and give original five-minute speeches on TR’s life and legacy. The Contests build on students’ public speaking, critical thinking and independent research skills, thereby enhancing their academic potential and scholarship, confidence, self-reliance, and leadership abilities.”

2. Purpose:

The Theodore Roosevelt® Public Speaking Contest is designed to encourage students to develop public speaking skills, such as organization and communicating ideas; developing critical thinking; performing independent research; and gaining an understanding of the interrelationship of various disciplines. Public speaking skills enable students to enhance their academic potential and scholarship, and build confidence, self-reliance, social awareness and leadership ability, all of which will help them to achieve success in further education, business and professional pursuits.

3. Topics

The following topics are provided for consideration. These suggestions, however, are not intended to be limiting in any respect. The speech may be historical in nature or may relate Theodore Roosevelt to contemporary issues. ( visit page 3 of the PDF document)

 THEODORE ROOSEVELT  AND AS


The Medal of Honor
New York State Assemblyman

Conservation
Champion of the Strenuous Life

Trust-Busting
Badlands Rancher

Consumer Protection
New York City Police Commissioner

The Nobel Peace Prize
Governor of New York State

Issues of Race
President of the United States

The Navy
Explorer

Immigration
Family Man

The Bull Moose Party 		Author

Domestic Policy 		Politician

Foreign Policy 		Rough Rider

The Arts
Civil Service Commissioner

The Sciences
Assistant Secretary of the Navy


Citizenship		Naturalist

4. Select a topic that you are curious and passionate about. DO ” quick and Dirty” research to find out what Teddy Roosevelt accomplished in this area.

  • How to formulate the specific purpose statement ( p 84)
  • What’s my purpose?
  • Is the purpose relevant, too trivial, or too technical to the audience?
  • What’s the central idea I’d like to have my audience to gain from my speech?

Session 3

Knowing the audience ( chapter 6)

JUDGING The finalists and winner will be selected by a panel of judges selected by the Theodore Roosevelt Association. Criteria for judging the speeches include: quality of the speech presentation, student delivery qualities, and the level of the student’s preparation. Accuracy of facts, demonstrated mastery of topic, effective communication of ideas, proper use of voice and articulation, and originality all are important. A copy of the judging worksheet is included in this announcement. The decisions of the judges are final. See Pages 5 & 6 of this document to view a sample our Judges Worksheet Form.

  1. To whom am I speaking?
  2. What do I want them to know, believe, or do as a result of my speech?
  3. What is the most effective way of composing and presenting my ideas to accomplish that aim?
  4. What’s audience’s age, group membership, racial, ethnic and cultural background?
  5. How to use rhetorical appeals to connect with or adapt to the audience? ow to adapt to the audience during the speech ( p.114)?
  6. What’s the physical setting for making the speech?
  7. How do we gain trust and ethos from our audience?