FUY Survey Becoming a Scholar and a Leader
Interpreted Speech Assignment
Introduction: Until the end of the quarter, you will be working on a mini-research project that
will result in several pieces of writing and an Oratorical Interpretation, or Interpreted Speech.
Products:
 A series of WPNB entries that chronicle your project progress
 Cornell Research Notes with bibliographic citations
 Interpreted, annotated, edited speech script
o Typed, revised version of your speech
o Notecards with biographical information and speech
 Rehearsed presentation of interpreted speech
Process:
1. Select a leader and speech from the websites below
2. Learn the elements of persuasive speaking and writing.
3. Analyze, revise and edit the famous speech to fit a three minute time-frame. You may
delete passages, but you cannot alter the meaning or change the order of the wording.
a. Your edited speech must include all five stages of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
b. Your speech will include a piece you write about the speaker’s background and
context of the speech
4. After you’ve re-written the speech, create note cards to help you practice your speech
5. Rehearse! Rehearse! Rehearse! Your presentation will be in two stages: the introduction
to your chosen leader (1 minute) and the interpreted speech (three minutes).
a. Activities on eye contact, volume, tone, pacing
b. On your written speech, annotate the text for change in volume (use up and down
arrows), in tone (underline passages of emphasis), and pacing (write slow and fast
next to places where tempo changes).
6. Write and practice your introduction.
7. On your presentation day, you will introduce your leader then present the edited speech
(you may have note cards)
8. Fill out the self-evaluation
What did I learn about myself as a researcher and speaker during this project?
What can I do to make research run smoothly in the future?
Best sources to find speeches:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speechbank.htm
http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/speeches/index.htm
There are also books in the library with speeches by famous leaders.
Choose from the following leaders (It's ok if more than one student chooses the same leader):
Malcolm X
Sojourner Truth
Winston Churchill
Susan B. Anthony
Elie Weisel
Richard Nixon
John F. Kennedy
Mahatma Gandhi
Hillary Clinton
Barack Obama
Pope John Paul
Frank Zappa
The Dali Lama
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Al Gore
Project Calendar, Assignments and Due Dates
9/29
-Introduce final assignment; read through assignment information.
-Instruction on Monroe’s Motivational Sequence
-“I have a dream” analysis
-Homework for 9/30 or 10/1 (WPNB, 20 minutes)
In paragraph form, discuss the five steps of Monroe's Motivational
Sequence and the roles they play in persuasive speaking. Be sure to
include examples for each step.
9/30-10/1
-Instruction in bibliographic citations and note-taking with Cornell note sheet
-Homework for 10/2:
Spend your usual 20 minutes of English time on the speech websites
until you have chosen a few possible speeches you want to request. Bring
a list of specific speeches to class Friday
10/2
-Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Review
-Choice of leader and speeches
-Homework for 10/5 (WPNB, 20 minutes):
1. Write about your past experience with research projects and public
speaking. Describe some of the projects you’ve done, what you
understand about taking notes, writing citations, synthesizing
information, and plagiarizing. What are your first impressions of this
assignment? Even though it’s fairly brief, you’ll be writing notes,
creating a short introductory speech, and editing/interpreting and
performing a famous speech. How comfortable are you with all these
activities?
2. Print out and bring in the text of the speech you will interpret
-Annotate speeches for Monroe’s Motivated Sequence
-Begin editing
-Homework for 10/6 (WPNB, 20 minutes):
Why did you choose the speech and leader you chose? What do you know
about him/her already? What do you want to find out?
-Introduction to our school databases
-Research on your leader and the context of your speech
-Homework for 10/7-8 (WPNB, 20 minutes):
What is the relationship between personal background, historical events
and leadership? Apply these ideas to your chosen leader.
10/5
10/6
10/7-8
10/9
-Project check in
-Speech practice for timing
-Homework for 10/9:
Create a set of notecards with your entire speech in small sections. Bring
your notecards to class 10/9
-Instruction in effective speech technique
-Speech practice
No homework!
10/12-13
-Speech practice
-Homework for 10/15-16:
REHEARSE YOUR SPEECH! With a friend, with dad, mom or grandma,
in front of a mirror, in front of the cat (dogs not recommendeD)
10/15-16
-Speeches!