Brown Bag Speech (with a twist)
Getting to Know Each Other
You will perform a speech of introduction lasting between 3 to 5 minutes. You will select 3 to 5 items
that you feel describe you (I will provide an example speech). However, you will not be giving the
speech about yourself-but about one of your classmates (who will be giving his or her speech about
you).
Following these steps:
1. Choose your 3-5 items that say something about who you are as a person.
2. Conduct interview (you will have class time to do this) with assigned partner
3. Write introduction and share with Mr. Shank on Google Docs
4. Complete speech
5. Collect items or visuals of the items (pictures)
6. Deliver speech on assigned day.
Speech Structure
The speech will be structured like an essay with three parts:
1. Introduction: begin with an anecdote, quote, interesting fact, detail of your life or joke which
captures the audience's attention.
2. Body: then discuss your three to five items, telling the audience what each one means to you
and what insight they provide into who you are. Each item should be the equivalent of a
paragraph. A paragraph is at least three sentences long.
- Make sure you extract good and interesting information from your partner. I expect more than
“Jim chose a baseball because he likes to play and watch baseball.” That’s insufficient to earn a
top grade. If baseball is important to Jim, explain why: “Jim chose a baseball because it
represents his dreams. As a boy growing up, he and his father watched the Phillies games
together. Soon, he and his father began tossing a ball around in the back yard. Now, Jim plays for
the school team, and his father comes to cheer him on. Jim hopes to play in college, and perhaps
one day in the big leagues. This is Jim’s dream. It demonstrates his hopeful side, but also his
ability to work hard to achieve his goals.” Now, that’s something that will earn you an A!
3. Conclusion: and finally, wrap up the speech by resummarizing, reemphasizing key points and
providing closure to the speech.
Speech Basics
1. Speak clearly: this includes rate, volume and enunciation. Avoid filler words, like “um”.
2. Make eye contact with your audience to create a personal bond.
3. Poise: use good posture, but do not appear stiff. Minimize nervous twitches and do not cross
legs or lean on the podium. Use effective hand gestures and facial expressions.
Name ________________________________________________
2
Speech
Basics
o well spoken (clear voice,
even pace, good volume)
o Very few filler words
o consistent eye contact
o Few nervous twitches
(rocking back and forth,
playing with hair, ext.)
o showed enthusiasm
1
.5
o Moderately well spoken
(Mostly understandable,
decent pace, decent
volume)
o some filler words
o some eye contact
o several nervous twitches.
o somewhat enthusiastic
o Poorly spoken (barely
understandable, way too fast or
too slow, way too loud or too
soft)
o many filler words
o little or no eye contact
o many nervous twitches
o monotone
______ x 2 = ______
o interesting introduction
o has 3 to 5 items
o each item presented in a
complete, full paragraph of
at least 5 sentences
o each item/paragraph
provides insight into and
plenty of information about
Speech
Structure
your subject.
And
o thorough conclusion
Preparation o duration of 3-5 minutes
o ready to go on speech
date
o Well written (x2)
o turned in written copy on
time
______ x 1 = ______
o basic introduction
o has fewer than 3 items
o items presented in
complete, but skimpy
paragraphs of at least 3
sentences
o each item/paragraph
provides some insight and
information about your
subject
o provides some insight
o basic conclusion
o duration of 2-3 minutes
o ready but importunes
o Decently written (x2)
______ x 2 = ______
Totals
NOTES
__________
______ x 1 = ______
+
__________
______ x .5 = ______
o poor introduction
o has fewer than 2 items
o items present in incomplete
paragraphs of less than 3
sentences
o items/paragraphs provide
little insight and/or information
into your subject.
o poor conclusion
o duration of 1-2 minutes
o not ready on speech date
o Poorly written (x2)
o turned in written copy late.
______ x .5 = ______
+ _________ = ________/30