Listening and Speaking Workshop Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Assignment Select a Speech Analyze Content Analyze Organization Analyze Delivery Evaluate a Speech Practice and Apply Feature Menu

Assignment: Analyze and evaluate a historically significant speech to uncover its impact on an audience. Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Throughout history, speakers have used the power of speech to convince others to take action. In this workshop you’ll look at a historically significant speech and determine what made it so persuasive. [End of Section]

First, research some historical events that interest you Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Select a Speech issues that matter to you Queen Elizabeth I Abraham Lincoln Chief Joseph

Then, look for historically important speeches about those events or issues. Check Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Select a Speech the library your history textbook on the Internet [End of Section]

View or read the speech and pay close attention to the important points. Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Content What persuasive arguments does the speaker use? Is the speaker trying to convince listeners to change their minds or to take action?

Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Content Look for these common types of arguments: Causation shows how a cause-effect relationship supports the speaker’s opinion. Analogies make comparisons between things that are generally not alike. Appeals to authority refer to trustworthy or knowledgeable experts.

Look for these common types of arguments: Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Content Emotional appeals use language to stir feelings of happiness, sadness, or anger. Logical appeals speak to the listeners’ minds through facts, statistics, and examples.

Good speakers master the use of rhetorical devices—ways of using language to make their message attention-getting and memorable. Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Content Rhetorical Devices AllusionAllusion: an indirect reference to literature or an actual person, event, or place MetaphorMetaphor: an imaginative comparison between two unlike things

Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Content Rhetorical Devices RepetitionRepetition: repeating the same important words or phrases DictionDiction: word choice that creates specific reactions from the audience ParallelismParallelism: using the same syntax, or sentence structure, to point out a similarity in ideas [End of Section]

Speakers organize their messages according to two different approaches: Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Organization Deductive Approach thesis stated first reasons and support general specific

Speakers organize their messages according to two different approaches: Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Organization Inductive Approach reasons and support build to thesis statement general specific

The organization of a speaker’s ideas should be clear and coherent. Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Organization Listeners can easily follow the structure of the speaker’s argument. Listeners can easily understand the connections between ideas. Clear Coherent [End of Section]

A speaker’s language and delivery—voice control and body movements—can set the tone and mood of a speech.tone and mood Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Delivery angry tone hostile mood respectful tone positive mood

Speakers use verbal and nonverbal delivery techniques to get their points across. Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Delivery Verbal Delivery Techniques EmphasisEmphasis is the stress a speaker puts on certain words and phrases. Speakers emphasize key ideas or points in their speeches by saying those words with a little more volume.

Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Delivery Verbal Delivery Techniques PausesPauses are small silences in speaking. A good speaker uses pauses to let his or her ideas soak in. Pauses also tell you that what the speaker has just said or is about to say is important.

Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Delivery Verbal Delivery Techniques Enunciation is the clarity with which speakers pronounce their words. Good speakers always want their ideas to be clearly understood. Poor enunciation makes listeners strain and gives them the impression that the speaker does not care about them or the topic.

Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Delivery Nonverbal Delivery Techniques Gestures are body movements that emphasize emotions or ideas. Good speakers use natural gestures, such as nodding their heads, shrugging their shoulders, or pointing to the audience. Facial expressions clue listeners in to the speaker’s feelings. For example, a smile can suggest warmth and sincerity, while a frown might show that the speaker is angry and wants you to know why.

Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Analyze Delivery Nonverbal Delivery Techniques Posture is how the speaker stands. A speaker standing straight and alert suggests confidence in his or her topic, while a slouching speaker suggests that he or she is uninterested and does not truly care about the topic. [End of Section]

Use the following questions to make judgments about the speech. Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Evaluate a Speech Evaluating Persuasive Speeches Content and Organization What arguments and rhetorical devices did the speaker use? Was there a variety of arguments and devices? What evidence (facts, statistics, or expert testimony) did the speaker provide to support his or her ideas? Were the speaker’s main points clear and coherent— connected to each other and to the main idea? Describe the organizational pattern.

Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Evaluate a Speech Evaluating Persuasive Speeches Delivery How did the speaker make good use of emphasis, enunciation, and pauses? Were his or her diction and syntax clear? Did the speaker use facial expressions, gestures, and posture to express tone and mood? If so, describe them. Did the speaker’s overall delivery capture your attention and help you understand the speech? Explain. [End of Section]

Analyzing and Evaluating Speeches Practice and Apply Use the information in this workshop to select and analyze a historically significant speech. Then, write a one-paragraph evaluation of the speech’s quality and effectiveness. Depending on your access to audiovisual resources, choose one of two options: View or listen to a recorded speech. Analyze the content, organization, and delivery. Read the text of a written speech, concentrating on its content and organization. [End of Section]

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