1. Analyzing Speeches SPAM Situation, Purpose, Audience, Method
Basic model for all public speaking
Situation
All communication happens in a certain place at a certain time
Ex. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
“Now we are engaged in a great civil war”
We immediately understand the time period the speech was given
“We are met on a great battlefield of that war”
Reminds us of the place where the speech was given

2. Situation (When and Where)
To fully understand situation, we must know more than just its physical time and place
Need to understand historical significance and potential impact of speech
Consider all factors that affect the situation
2 years into the war (war was expected to last a few weeks)
50,000+ dead or wounded in this one battle
War was being fought to end slavery and to preserve the union of North and South

3. Purpose (Why)
Refers to the goal a speaker hopes to achieve with a speech
All speakers expect their speech to have a result
You must identify the specific purpose for speaking
In order to do this, you have to understand the situation first
Ex: Lincoln’s purpose in delivering the Gettysburg Address was not just to dedicate the battlefield as a cemetery—he rededicated the Union
“A government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth”

4. Audience (Who) Easiest of the 4 SPAM variables to understand
Audience is the people to whom the speech is directed
Audience is part of the situation
Audience is expected to be affected by the purpose of the speech in a specific way
Audience response to the speech determines whether the speech succeeds or fails
Good speakers analyze their audiences and adapt their speeches to them
Adapt by changing
Emotions, vocabulary, and strategy
Lincoln’s immediate audienceNortherners
Lincoln recognizes that he might have a larger audienceall Americans, including Southerners
Knowing that some Southerners might hear this speech, Lincoln never once refers to the “enemy”

5. Method (strategy)
After determining the situation and purpose with an audience in mind, consider what method will best accomplish the purpose
What kind of language to use?
Formal or informal
“Four score and seven years…”
What mood to set?
What words help to set the mood?
dedicate, consecrate, hallow, sacred, etcsomber, serious, grieving
How to begin and end?
“Four score…”refers to founding of nation
“of the people, by the people, four the people”alludes back to declaration and constitution

6. Table Work Complete SPAM analysis for “Gettysburg Address”
Situation
Audience
Purpose
Method—focus on repetition and parallel structure
List out one example of repetition and one example of parallel structure. Then explain how this affects the mood of the speech
Re-write the speech using modern language