Name _______________
Oral Presentation on Death of a Salesman
You will write and present a speech on a topic of your choice, which analyzes Death of a Salesman.
Topic selection/thesis due: 9/5-6. Body due: 9/7-10. Oral presentations on: 9/13-18.
Requirements:
1. The speech must be 4-6 minutes long.
2. The speech must be prepared ahead of time in one of the following ways:
 Main ideas and quotations written on note cards
 Main ideas and quotations written or typed on paper
 Full text written or typed on paper
3. The speech must include the following parts:
 An introduction, which includes:
o Answer to So What? question
o Preview of main points
o Thesis that answers your topic/question(s)
 A body, which includes three or more main points and:
o Topic sentences
o Supporting quotations from the play (at least one for each main point)
o Analysis/explanation of meaning
o Clear transitions
 A conclusion, which includes:
o Restatement of thesis
o Summary of main points
o Reflection back to the So What? question
Topics: (you may create your own topic, but please get it approved by the teacher)
1. Is Death of a Salesman a tragedy and Willy Loman a tragic hero, or does the play merely chronicle the
pathetic demise of a small man? Explain.
2. Who is to blame for Willy’s destruction? Explain.
3. What is the turning point in Willy’s life? Explain.
4. Is Willy the main character in this play or is Biff? Why?
5. What does Biff discover about himself? How does this discovery affect his relationship with Willy? How
is Biff ’s self-realization dramatic?
6. Does Linda help or hinder Willy in overlooking his small sales and his dishonest attempts to make them
seem bigger? How else does she influence Willy? Discuss Linda’s remark, “Attention—attention must
finally be paid to such a man!”
7. What is Willy’s dream? What is he searching for throughout the play? Why doesn’t he find it? Did he
have a chance of fulfilling it? Did he have the wrong dream? Inappropriate attitudes? Is he a born loser,
or does he achieve success in his own way? Explain.
8. Why is Biff so angry about the incident in Boston? Why does Biff steal? Does Biff use Willy’s behavior
as an excuse for his own mistakes? Explain.
9. Discuss the significance of Willy’s being a younger son with an absent father. How does that influence
his behavior with his own sons? In what ways does Happy’s situation reflect Willy’s? How has Willy
treated Biff? How is it different from the way he has treated Happy?
10. How does Ben affect Willy? How does he influence the events in the play? What do you think of the
way he has achieved his wealth?
11. Willy is proud of putting up the living-room ceiling and making a concrete porch. How is the image of
working with his hands carried through the play? Why, then, doesn’t Willy think highly of being a
carpenter?
12. How and why do Willy’s illusions differ from reality? In what ways does Willy contradict himself, and
why is his inconsistent?
13. Trace one (or more) of the symbols used throughout the play. Explain its meaning (what it represents)
and how Miller uses it to communicate an important theme.
Content
Organization
Style and
Language
Minimal
-demonstrates limited
understanding of Death
of a Salesman
-responds to few or no
aspects of the chosen
topic
-provides little detail,
development, and
support
-reflects little
imagination, creativity,
and sensitivity
Basic
-demonstrates partial
understanding of Death
of a Salesman
-responds to some
aspects of the chosen
topic
-provides some detail,
development, and
support.
-reflects some
imagination, creativity,
and sensitivity
Proficient
-demonstrates sufficient
understanding of Death
of a Salesman
-responds to most
aspects of the chosen
topic
-provides adequate
detail, development,
and support
-reflects imagination,
creativity, and sensitivity
Advanced
-demonstrates
perceptive
understanding of Death
of a Salesman
-responds to all aspects
of the chosen topic
-provides substantial
detail, development, and
support
-reflects deep
imagination, creativity,
and sensitivity
-less than 2 minutes
-generally disorganized,
unclear, and/or
incoherent
-quotations are seldom
or never incorporated
into analysis
-2 or more minutes
-partially organized,
clear, and/or coherent
-quotations are partially
incorporated into
analysis
-3 or more minutes
-mostly well organized,
clear, and coherent
-quotations are
smoothly incorporated
into analysis
Some of the following
are included:
-intro with answer to the
So What? question,
preview of main points,
thesis that answers
chosen topic
-body with three or
more main points, one
or more quotations to
support each main
point, and smooth
transitions
-conclusion with
restatement of thesis,
summary of main
points, and reflection
back to the So What?
question
Most of the following
are included:
-intro with answer to the
So What? question,
preview of main points,
thesis that answers
chosen topic
-body with three or
more main points, one
or more quotations to
support each main
point, and smooth
transitions
-conclusion with
restatement of thesis,
summary of main
points, and reflection
back to the So What?
question
-4-6 minutes
-consistently well
organized, clear, and
coherent
-quotations are expertly
and seamlessly
incorporated into
analysis
-Presenter seems
somewhat prepared and
rehearsed.
-Eye contact and facial
expressions are limited
or unfitting.
-Vocal variety, gestures,
posture, and
movements are
somewhat ineffective.
-Speech is clear,
distinct, fluent, and loud
enough throughout
some of the
presentation.
-Presenter seems
mostly prepared and
rehearsed.
-Eye contact and facial
expressions support the
purpose.
-Vocal variety, gestures,
posture, and
movements are
appropriate and
effective.
-Speech is clear,
distinct, fluent, and loud
enough throughout
most of the
presentation.
Few of the following are
included:
-intro with answer to the
So What? question,
preview of main points,
thesis that answers
chosen topic
-body with three or
more main points, one
or more quotations to
support each main
point, and smooth
transitions
-conclusion with
restatement of thesis,
summary of main
points, and reflection
back to the So What?
question
-Presenter seems
lacking in preparation
and rehearsal.
-Eye contact is very
limited, and facial
expressions are
unvaried.
-Vocal variety, gestures,
posture, and
movements are limited
and/or distracting.
-Speech cannot be
understood, heard
and/or lacks fluency
throughout much of the
presentation.
All of the following are
included:
-intro with answer to the
So What? question,
preview of main points,
thesis that answers
chosen topic
-body with three or more
main points, one or more
quotations to support
each main point, and
smooth transitions
-conclusion with
restatement of thesis,
summary of main points,
and reflection back to
the So What? Question
-Presenter seems wellprepared and wellrehearsed.
-Eye contact and facial
expressions enhance
the purpose.
-Vocal variety, gestures,
posture, and movements
are poised and natural;
they enhance the
presentation.
-Speech is clear,
distinct, fluent, and loud
enough throughout the
presentation.