Public Speaking

“Aaaah…I hate this. Why do we have to do it? At some point, everybody will need to speak to an audience (interviews, meetings, etc). The ability to speak in public is ranked as a MUST HAVE skill by most employers.

Aaaah…I hate this. Why do we have to do it? Practice in public speaking will help you express yourself in any situation where you need to be convincing (working groups, getting out of trouble with parents).

Grade 8 Speeches…so much more mature. So much more personal. Grade 8 speeches need to have a personal opinion. They are not simply a research paper read to an audience. Our speeches this year will present a persuasive argument.

Grade 8 Speeches…so much more mature. So much more personal. Grade 8 speeches need to be a minute longer (3-4). This will not be a problem…trust me.

In this unit you will learn… How to become the EXPERT on your topic. How to research a topic to convincingly present your opinion.

In this unit you will learn… How to organize your writing to best present your opinion to a group (not as clear-cut as it seems). How to use body language to convey your opinion (80% of communication is non-verbal).

In this unit you will learn… What to do when you’re nervous, confused, lost, nauseous, stammering, etc. (It’s never as bad as you think).

Choosing your topic Choosing a great topic is a CRUCIAL step in having a successful grade 8 speech. Take the time to do it right.

Your speech topic should be… Personal and connected to you. You are the expert on this topic. Researchable (articles, interviews, personal opinion, etc) Interesting to you. Interesting to US! Simple…you only have 4 minutes!

Your speech topic should… …have two sides. A great way to convince others of your opinion is to compare it to an opposing opinion and dispute it…just don’t over do it.

Classwork Brainstorm a collection of possible topics. Personal experience, interests, and strong opinions can all be developed into a great topic! Get as many as possible. Ask for help if you get stuck.

Classwork Choose at least two topics you think might work. Write each topic on a sheet of looseleaf.

Classwork On each sheet, make pt. form notes to answer these questions: What do I know about this topic? What do I want to know about this topic? Does this topic fit the criteria in slides 10-11?

Classwork Take a few minutes away from your ideas. When you come back, which topic seems more interesting and engaging? Which are you more interested in becoming an expert in? If this is a problem…ask a friend or teacher for their opinion.

Classwork Have fun…spending the time picking a great topic now, will make things easier later.