DB 1
Please read the article posted to TWITTER as well as chapters 1-3 in the text and respond to the
following questions. Then respond to at least ONE classmate's post.
1. What are your thoughts about the article? Who do you think is a better public speakerRomney or Obama? Explain.
2. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being terrible and 10 being incredible) rate your public speaking ability?
3. What is your greatest concern in taking this course? Explain.
4. Introduce yourself to the class. Give a short history of yourself and your background.
5. Consider the other students in the class. How can you be culturally sensitive to your
classmates' perspectives? What information can you give your classmates so they can be more
sensitive to your cultural background?
6. Review the section in chapter 2 on the communibiological paradigm and speech anxiety.
Would you describe yourself as generally uncomfortable in social situations, or do you tend to
enjoy them?
7. Describe a recent experience where you were a critical listener. How well did you listen with
empathy and appreciation? How well did you listen for content? How did you evaluate what the
speaker said? What did you learn from listening critically?
DB 2
Availability: Item is no longer available. It was last available on Sep 8, 2012 11:59 PM.
Please read the article posted to TWITTER as well as chapters 4-6 in the text and respond
to the following questions. Then respond to at least ONE classmate's post.
1. List 5 topics that you would consider boring? Using the tips from the article how could
you make them interesting?
2. Consider events and issues that are currently in the news. How might these serve as a
springboard for topic ideas? How will these current events and issues influence your
topic choice?
3.In what ways would an audience composed of mostly students differ from other
audiences? How might the demographic profile and interests of a student audience differ
from those of professionals in a work setting? Would these audiences be equally familiar
with a topic and feel the same way about it?
4.The first step in researching our topic is determining what you already know. How
might what you know get in the way of doing good research? How might you check the
reliability, currency and validity of what you already know about a topic?
DB 3
Please read chapters 7-9 in the text as well as read the article/video posted on the Twitter page.
Answer the following questions and also respond to another classmate's post.
1. Humans love to tell and listen to stories, so listeners find stories in speeches especially
engaging. What are the negative aspects of using narratives in speeches? How can audience
members enjoy a story yet listen critically at the same time?
2. When you are listening to a speaker, how convincing do you find expert, celebrity and lay
testimony? What makes you skeptical of testimony?
3. After viewing the video posted to Twitter please answer the following questions:
a. Identify the main points in the speech. How clear was each point? How relevant was each
point to the speaker's general purpose, specific purpose and thesis? How balanced were the
main points?
b. Give examples of transitions the speaker used. How effective were those transitions? Were
there places in the speech that were missing transitions?
c. Develop a complete-sentence outline of the speech.
d. If you were advising the speaker on how to improve the way he organized his ideas, what
would you say?
4. After viewing the video posted to Twitter answer the following questions:
a. How effective was the speaker's introduction? What did the speaker use as introductory
material for the speech?
b. How effective was the speaker's conclusion? What did the speaker use as conclusion material
for the speech?
DB 4
Please read chapters 10-12 in the text and also the article/video posted to Twitter. Respond to
my initial questions and then to another classmate's post for a total of TWO posts.
1. Please watch the video posted to Twitter and answer the following questions:
a. What were the main points of the speech? How clear was each point? How relevant was each
point to the speaker's general purpose, specific purpose, and thesis? How balanced were the
main points?
b. Give examples of transitions the speaker used. How effective were those transitions? Were
there places in the speech that were missing transitions?
c. Develop a complete-sentence outline of the speech.
d. If you were advising the speaker on how to improve the way he organized his ideas, what
would you say?
2.Swear words can get your audience's attention and give added impact to what you say. But is
it the impact you want? Should you swear in your speech? Recall an instance in which you heard
or read about a speaker cursing during a presentation. How did you react? Do you think that's
the reaction the speaker intended? Is using such words ever appropriate in public speaking?
Why or why not?
3. How did you practice for your first speech? How effective was your practicing? How do you
plan to practice your speeches in the future?
4. With digital visual and audio files, it's easy to alter an original photograph, video, song or
taped conversation. What are speaker's ethical responsibilities when developing presentation
media for a speech?
DB 5
Please read Chapter 13 in the text and watch the videos posted to Twitter. Then answer my
questions as well as respond to another classmate's post.
1. After watching the both videos answer the following questions:
- Does the clarity or lack of clarity in both speeches raise ethical questions? Give specific
examples.
- How does clarity relate to transparency- the visibility or accessibility of information disclosed?
- Were the intended messages in each speech clear?
- Were the speeches you watched informative or persuasive? Explain
- What were the main points of Mrs. Romney's speech? What were the main points of Mrs.
Obama's speech?
- Give 3 positive aspects of both speeches' organizational arrangements as well as 3 critiques of
both speeches' organizational arrangements? What can you learn from both speakers in terms
of your own journey to becoming a better speaker?
DB 6
Please watch the video posted to Twitter, answer the following questions and respond to
at least one classmate's post.
1. What type of attention Grabber does the speaker use?
2. If one is not used, do you have any suggestions for an attention getter?
3. What is the speakers’s thesis statement? Is this easily recognizable in the speech?
4. What are 3 examples, statistics, or facts that the speaker uses to support his/her thesis?
5. does the speaker return to the attention grabber in the conclusion?
6. What is one point or sentence that particularly sticks out in this speech?
7. Is it easily recognizable where the speaker will be providing the demonstration?
8. What does he/she plan to use as a visual aid?
9. What is one suggestions that you can make that will vocally improve the delivery of this
speech?
10. What is the overall time of the speech?
11. What do you suggest that this author adds to his or her speech to improve the
time/content?
12. Is there any information that should be taken out of this speech?
DB 7
Please watch the video posted to Twitter and answer the following questions by Friday at midnight.
Then respond to a classmate's post by Sunday at midnight.
1. What are some positive aspects of this online public speaking course described in the video?
2. What are some things that you would change in the online speaking course described in the
video?
3. What are some of the positives of our online public speaking course?
4. What are some of the challenges and suggestions for improvement to our online public
speaking course?
DB 8
Please watch the video posted to Twitter and read chapters 14 and 15 in the text to answer the
following questions. Then respond to another classmate's post.
1. As a persuasive speaker, what steps must you take to avoid manipulating your audience? As
an audience member, how can you make sure speakers don't manipulate you?
2. What unique ethical considerations face persuasive speakers when they're addressing
questions of fact? What are the ethical considerations associated with questions of value? What
ethical issues must a persuasive speaker addressing a question of policy confront?
3. After watching the videos posted to Twitter answer the following:
a. What type of audience was each ad video appealing to: apathetic, divided, negative(hostile),
positive(sympathetic), or uninformed. Please explain your answer.
b. What type of claims was each ad making: fact, policy or value. Please explain your answer.
c. Identify (if any) fallacies in each ad video. Explain your answer.
d. What appeals did each ad use: logos, pathos, ethos, or mythos. Explain your answer.
e. What type of reasoning was used in each ad: analogical reasoning, inductive reasoning, or
deductive reasoning. Explain your answer.
4. Choose a controversial topic you're interested in and identify the claims each side presents.
What are the premises and conclusions each side is asking the audience to accept?
5. Write about a recent discussion you've had in which you tried to persuade others to accept
your point of view. What type or types of reasoning did you use? How well did your reasoning
work?
DB 9
Please watch the videos posted to Twitter. Using the rubric evaluate all 3. Then comment on another
classmate's post.
SPEECH 1:
WHAT WAS THE TOPIC OF THE SPEECH-
Persuasive Speech Evaluation Form
Please mark each evaluation statement with Y for Yes or N for
No
Introduction
____gained attention + interest (for this one open with a way to grab attention not your
name and topic)
____establish credibility (your experience+research)
____showed relevance of topic (why do we care, affects people in this area)
____previewed body of speech (this is not like an essay…I want you to let us know exactly
what we are going to hear)
Body
____main points clear, organize ideas in a suitable manner
____transitions clear (tell when you move from point to point)
____Cited sources (tell us the source that you used to get specific information—could be
person, book, magazine,etc.—do not say, “I read somewhere…”)
____argued points soundly/gave action steps (give the audience good reasons to share
your views/or take action—anticipate objections and answer in your speech)
Conclusion
____signaled speech ending in two places (leaving body of speech and after closing
statement)
____summarized and reinforced main points (Drive your message home and end on a
memorable note—no new material)
In General
____eye contact (reading is very few points)
____volume
____do not dance, lean on podium, jangle keys, etc.
____avoid “Um”-“like”-“you know”-“I mean” etc.
____must have visual aid
Strengths of the Speech:
Areas the Need Improvement:
SPEECH 2:
WHAT WAS THE TOPIC OF THE SPEECH-
Persuasive Speech Evaluation Form
Please mark each evaluation statement with Y for Yes or N for
No
Introduction
____gained attention + interest (for this one open with a way to grab attention not your
name and topic)
____establish credibility (your experience+research)
____showed relevance of topic (why do we care, affects people in this area)
____previewed body of speech (this is not like an essay…I want you to let us know exactly
what we are going to hear)
Body
____main points clear, organize ideas in a suitable manner
____transitions clear (tell when you move from point to point)
____Cited sources (tell us the source that you used to get specific information—could be
person, book, magazine,etc.—do not say, “I read somewhere…”)
____argued points soundly/gave action steps (give the audience good reasons to share
your views/or take action—anticipate objections and answer in your speech)
Conclusion
____signaled speech ending in two places (leaving body of speech and after closing
statement)
____summarized and reinforced main points (Drive your message home and end on a
memorable note—no new material)
In General
____eye contact (reading is very few points)
____volume
____do not dance, lean on podium, jangle keys, etc.
____avoid “Um”-“like”-“you know”-“I mean” etc.
____must have visual aid
Strengths of the Speech:
Areas the Need Improvement:
SPEECH 3:
WHAT WAS THE TOPIC OF THE SPEECH-
Persuasive Speech Evaluation Form
Please mark each evaluation statement with Y for Yes or N for
No
Introduction
____gained attention + interest (for this one open with a way to grab attention not your
name and topic)
____establish credibility (your experience+research)
____showed relevance of topic (why do we care, affects people in this area)
____previewed body of speech (this is not like an essay…I want you to let us know exactly
what we are going to hear)
Body
____main points clear, organize ideas in a suitable manner
____transitions clear (tell when you move from point to point)
____Cited sources (tell us the source that you used to get specific information—could be
person, book, magazine,etc.—do not say, “I read somewhere…”)
____argued points soundly/gave action steps (give the audience good reasons to share
your views/or take action—anticipate objections and answer in your speech)
Conclusion
____signaled speech ending in two places (leaving body of speech and after closing
statement)
____summarized and reinforced main points (Drive your message home and end on a
memorable note—no new material)
In General
____eye contact (reading is very few points)
____volume
____do not dance, lean on podium, jangle keys, etc.
____avoid “Um”-“like”-“you know”-“I mean” etc.
____must have visual aid
Strengths of the Speech:
Areas the Need Improvement:
DB 10-16
Please watch the videos posted to Twitter, answer the following question for each video and
respond to at least one classmate's post.
1. What grade would give the speaker in each video? Explain.
2. What are 3 things each speaker did well?
3. What are 3 things each speaker could improve on for the next speech?