Extemporaneous Speech Description (1) PDF

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Overview The purpose of this persuasive speech is to demonstrate your intimate understanding of how communication is used for advocacy. This speech is a deliberative address that answers a question of policy. Questions of policy do not ask whether an action or person is good or bad (question of value) or if something is true or false (question of fact). Question of policy looks toward arguing for the best solution to a problem. Keeping in line with the constraints of this speech, at the end of your address, your main goal should be for us to know three things: 1. that there is a problem relevant to us as an audience & society as a whole, 2. what is causing that problem, and 3. how we can get involved in solving that problem (in a way that addresses its causes).

On a more theoretical level, this speech is an act of composition, demonstrating an application of the canons of rhetoric, good argument, and what we’ve discussed about communication as an act of advocating. And in a practical sense, this persuasive speech is a chance for you to demonstrate the best practices that come with public speaking, including the ability to organize your ideas concisely, support your convictions with credible research, and remain poised during a speech.

Minimum Requirements      

Length of 4-5 minutes (3:46-5:14) Follows Problem-Cause-Solution Structure At least 2 credible sources properly, verbally cited Reference page turned in to Canvas (APA Format) 1 Notecard Allowed, front side only No use of podium or table

Grading Though the minimum requirements for this assignment are outlined above, know that they are indeed minimal. This means you will need to go above and beyond these basic standards to earn a grade higher than “C.” Please reference the rubric attached at the end of this document and use it as you write your speech—the rubric outlines the aspects of your speech we will be looking at as we grade.

Details and Submission You may not use a podium or table. You must be entirely visible to the camera – head to toe. Your recording needs to have distinguishable audio and visual components. You may have an audience but are NOT required to have one. If you do have an audience, make sure they do not block the camera. This speech will be recorded via video and submitted to Canvas. It is your responsibility to ensure that your recording uploads and works correctly. We encourage you to save a recording of your speech as a backup. If you encounter problems, contact your instructor immediately. DO NOT wait to the last minute to upload your speech. Speeches that are not uploaded and accessible to instructors by the due date will be counted late.

Topic & Structure There are many issues about which a persuasive speech could be written. To meet the expectations of this assignment, your speech needs to be about a specific policy you want us to follow, a thing you want us to do. Keep it tangible. Our hope is that you pick something with a hefty justification and social significance. For example, think about a topic that goes beyond “eating healthy,” “getting

enough sleep,” “not smoking,” “exercising more,” “reducing caffeine consumption,” “not procrastinating,” and other like-minded topics. All of these topics work on the individual level, but their societal-wide or social significance could be larger. Sincerely think about a problem you see in the world and think should be changed. From there you can more easily fit the expectations of this assignment. Picking a topic may be one of the most difficult parts of this assignment. Think about what you’re passionate about, what’s in the news, or what you have an opinion about. Surely, there is a problem in this world you want to fix!

Time Your speech should be 4-5 minutes. This is intended to be a very tangible limit on your speaking situation that you will need to practice for. We offer a grace period of 15 seconds (so your speech can be anywhere from 3:46-5:14). Otherwise, we will give a penalty of 3 points for every 15 seconds you are over or under time. You will be timed from the time you start speaking to the time you are finished, if your recording runs a little longer than that due to technology, you will not be penalized for this.

Sources At least two sources need to be verbally-cited in the speech, but strong speeches (aka A/B speeches) will have more (3-4+). Use the Effective Public Speaking chapter in the textbook as a guide to make sure you have the correct types of information (authors’ names, dates, etc) needed to make a verbal citation. Though it is heavily implied, we want to emphasize that your sources must be stated aloud and with enough emphasis and precision that your audience notices them. Remember: your audience will not see your references, so you verbally stating where you got your information in the text of your speech both increases your credibility as an ethical person (who isn’t lying to us) and gives us as an audience the ability to go back and check your sources after the speech is completed. The sources themselves need to be high quality and recent. If citing statistics, find the most current data available (within 2 years). When it comes to types of sources, newspapers and magazines (like The Washington Post, Politico, the Lincoln Journal Star, and The Economist) are excellent places to gather information for your speech. Sources like InfoWars, Upworthy, The Blaze, Addicting Info, and even the Huffington Post aren’t very balanced or appropriate. Additionally, random websites with information are difficult to trust, so don’t just google your topic and use the first links that pop up. We recommend you stay away from uncredentialed websites since literally anyone can own a website. Most importantly, if you are using information that may appear to have questionable validity, explain to us in the audience why we should trust your information or reference. Give us additional bits of information that bolsters its credibility like if you’re looking at an article written by a Noble Prize winner, if relevant.

Reference Page In addition to being verbally stated in your speech, all sources should be put into APA (American Psychological Association) format and listed in a reference page. You will turn in this reference page on Canvas. For help with APA format, please use Purdue OWL to mimic their style guide; or for more hands-on help, visit the UNL Writing Center.

Visual Aids & Notecards Visual aids are not required for this speech. Absolutely no Powerpoint is allowed. You can use the front of one (3x5/4x6 in) notecard for this speech. Notecards are to refresh your memory, not to read aloud from and not to have your entire speech written on. We recommend only putting general taglines for each of your main points and sub-points, as well as relevant verbal citations and quotations you may be using. If you use more than one notecard or use it inappropriately, it is a 3-point deduction.

Extemporaneous Delivery You will need to practice this speech before you give it. This speech is extemporaneous in nature, meaning it is not read aloud verbatim from a script (manuscript delivery), developed on the spot with no prior practice (impromptu delivery), or fully committed to memory word-for-word (memorized delivery). Extemporaneous speaking falls somewhere between memorized and impromptu speaking, allowing you as a speaker to retain the flexibility in word choice of impromptus while remaining organized, well-researched, and practiced like memorized speeches. One way to describe reaching a level of extemporaneousness is when you have performed a speech so much that you essentially have the same content each time you give the speech, but the phrasing is slightly different each go around. This means we recommend initially writing out your speech in outline format and continuously practicing the speech aloud to closely familiarize yourself with its content.

Dress Code You are not required to dress up for this speech; however, we ask that you remove hats that make it difficult to see your face. Dress in a way that is appropriate and going to make you feel confident. Watch out for potentially distracting clothing items like ties, watches, necklaces, rings, scarves, and your glasses. You might want to play with these things or readjust them. Avoid putting your hands in your pockets (and jingling your keys) or flipping your hair; these are all non-conscious behaviors that will result in deductions (and can be changed with practice).

Sample Outline Guide (Problem-Cause-Solution 3-point Format) I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

Introduction I. Attention Getter II. Brief Introduction of Problem / Background information III. Statement of Social Significance IV. Thesis Statement V. Preview of Main Points I. Transition Sentence(s) to Main Point #1 Main Point #1 (Problem) I. Arguments Establishing & Explaining Problem II. Evidence / Support I. Summary & Transition Main Point #2 (Cause) I. Argument Establishing & Explaining Cause of Problem II. Evidence / Support I. Summary & Transition Main Point #3 (Solutions/Call to Action) I. Argument for Solution & How It Addresses Problem and its Cause(s) II. How Audience Can Get Involved, Support, &/or Enact Your Solution I. Summary and Transition Conclusion I. Review of Main Points II. Restatement of Thesis Statement & Solution/Call to Action III. Closing Remark/Memorable Message/Clincher

Rubric Topic is well suited to this assignment and relevant to audience & society as a whole ______/2 Introduction ________/10 Attention getter _____/2 Thesis clearly stated ______/2 Statement of significance is appropriate and convincing ____/2 Clear solution/call to action ____/2 Speaker previewed main points ______/2 Body ________ /15 Each main point has a clear topic sentence _____/2 Each main point is supported by credible evidence _____/3 Argument follows problem-cause-solution structure ______/3 Argument is sound and persuasive _____/3 ALL sources are properly cited (at least 2) ______/2 Transitions are clear ______/2 Conclusion _______/8 Speaker restates thesis statement _____/2 Speaker emphasizes call to action ______/2 Speaker clearly reviewed main points _____/2 Speaker brought speech to strong finish _______/2 Delivery ________/15 Speaker sustained direct, inviting eye contact ____/3 Speaker avoided distracting body movement ______/3 Speaker was clear, articulate and well-spoken ______/3 Speech was free of filler words or pauses _______/3 Speaker was engaging (not monotone, memorized or reading) ______/3 Time (3:46-5:14) ______________ Deductions: -3 for every :15 above/below; -3 for more than one note-card; -5 for reading speech; -3 for failure to turn in reference page...