Assignment Guide: Persuasive Speech
Overview
You’ve crafted the Persuasive Proposition Speech Outline–yay! Now, it’s time for you to use this outline, and the feedback you’ve been offered, to draft and present your 7-8 minute, video-recorded, Persuasive Proposition speech. This assignment strictly builds from the Persuasive Proposition Outline assignment; we encourage you to review the outline’s assignment details to further inform your work on this assignment.
Prompt
Record yourself presenting a 7-8 minute persuasive proposition speech on an ethical, timely and contextually relevant topic addressing a public controversy and advocating for a perspective that you hope your audience will adopt. You want your audience to be moved to feel, believe, and/or do something, as a result of hearing your proposition. In addition to video-recording yourself giving your speech, this assignment includes submitting a fully-drafted copy of your speech.
Expectations
By formulating a persuasive proposition speech on an ethical, timely and contextually relevant topic, you will be addressing a public controversy and advocating for a perspective that you hope your audience will adopt. Keeping in mind: if the issue isn’t publicly controversial – if everyone agrees or if there are not multiple perspectives – you are not persuading; you’re informing.
Organization
Step-by-Step Guide
(See in-course readings for detailed explanations/directions.)
Preparing to Present your Speech
Description/Guidelines
Step 1: Review the feedback given to you on your outline and thesis statement.
The outline is a guide to help you plan your presentation, but it does not represent the finished product. As you move forward with your planning, use grader feedback, and your own self-reflection, to adjust the assignment as needed.
Step 2: Draft your speech–critically considering constitutive, contextual and cultural (3C’s) implications.
When developing your informative speech, ask yourself:
What content am I sharing?
What is my message?
What messages am I trying to avoid?
How might people react to and/or perceive what I’m sharing? Will some disagree? WIll some feel the same?
Who is my audience and what are their needs?
How can I best connect with those who are listening to me speak?
Where do I imagine I’m presenting this speech?
To whom am I addressing?
When and where is my speech occurring?
Step 3: Practice ethical communication
Incorporate at least 2 credible sources to support your topic; be sure to cite these sources within your speech; give credit where credit is due.
Step 4: Develop a visual presentation aid with 7-10 slides.
Develop a slideshow (e.g. PPT, Slides, Prezi, Keynote, or the like) with any visual elements to support your purpose for speaking. Be sure to consider the following: content, unity, consistency, emphasis, focal point, visibility, tone, scale, proportion, and usability. Be prepared to use this visual while presenting your speech. Both you and the visual must be seen in the video recording of this presentation.
Step 5: Focus on flow
A speech is a presentation that requires a carefully constructed beginning, middle, and end. Be sure to offer the audience an effective introduction, body, and conclusion, in speaking form. Use transitions to assist with the flow of your ideas.
Step 6: Make rhetorical considerations.
Your speech should be persuasive; thus, in order to persuade your audience, you must get them to believe you, and to believe in your proposition. Will you rely on your experiences? Logical data? Will you try to pull on your audience’s emotional heartstrings? Incorporate rhetorical techniques–such as ethos, pathos and logos–to connect with your audience. (See course readings for more information on this.)
Step 6: Record yourself giving your 7-8 minute speech using your visual aid.
Be sure to utilize the following speaking techniques: storytelling, projection, enunciation, projection, pausing and pacing. While presenting, do not read your written speech: take time to practice, so that your speaking looks prepared but natural. Your recorded speech should include the following:
A clear photo ID at the beginning for proof of person.
You–at least your face–side-by-side with the deck/visual you have created.
You–using your deck/visual to enhance the speech you are presenting.
Step 7: Submit your written and recorded speech.
Create a document that includes a copy of your written speech (you may also include the outline) along with an appropriate MLA heading featuring the URL for your recorded speech. Thus, the document you submit will have the following:
An appropriate MLA heading with the URL to the video-recording of your speech
A written draft of your entire speech (the one that you are presenting)
Requirements
Submit a written copy (single or double-spaced) of your speech with the URL showcasing your presentation of this speech. On your written speech submission, include a heading with your name, date, title assignment, and name of course followed by the URL to your recorded speech.
Your recorded speech should be free from distracting glitches and technical issues making it hard to review.
Length
Your recorded speech should be 7-8 minutes long. It should address all of the elements included above.
If your speech is under 7 minutes, or over 8 minutes, it will be returned to you ungraded. In this case, you will be asked to recreate and refilm the assignment, after you ensure it meets all expectations outlined in the prompt and rubric.
A drafted copy of the speech must be submitted with the URL to a video-recording of your speech. If these requirements are not met, your work will be returned ungraded.
Essential Elements Checklist: Persuasive Outline
A proposition on an ethical, timely and contextually relevant topic addressing a public controversy and advocating for a perspective that you hope your audience will adopt.
A URL to your video in the MLA-formatted heading. (Speech can be single or double-spaced)
A 7-8 minute recorded speech (audio & visual) where both you, the presenter are seen, along with your visual/deck.
A logically organized speech.
An ethically directed speech, directed towards a clear audience.
The 3-C’s have been clearly and notably considered.
2 credible sources are cited and mentioned in the speech.
A 7-10 slide-driven, visual aid fortifying the speech.
The speech is not read verbatim from the slides and/or any preparatory materials.
The speech is clear of audio & visual issues and/or technical glitches.
