Speaker Critique Discussion
Instructions
This Speaker Critique Discussion asks that you find a speaker to critique online. Choose a speaker with an audience in a somewhat professional setting. If you doubt a speech to critique, a famous or historical speech is often very effective to watch; I offer some suggestions below regarding sites you may visit to complete the assignment.
Directions:
The speech must be 4–7 minutes long (in its entirety). In other words, do more than watch a PORTION of a long speech; watch the entire speech. Answer the following questions on the discussion board.
1. Context of speech: List the name of the website you used. How long is this speech? Who is speaking? Why is the speech being delivered? Who is the intended audience do you think? Is this a persuasive speech or informational? Please provide a link to your speech here as well.
2. What about eye contact? Does the speaker do a good job of looking around at the audience, or not so much? If the speaker uses notes or slides, do they interfere with their eye contact? Do they balance looking at those items and the audience, or is too much time spent looking at notes? Does the speaker look equally around the location, or do they look in one area too little?
3. Briefly discuss the speaker’s voice quality. Discuss rate (how fast or slow), emphasis, intensity, vocal distractors (uh’s, umm’s, etc.), pauses, etc. Is the overall quality effective? Why or why not?
4. How does the speaker begin? What is used to gain attention? Tell us the quote or opening lines. Is it an effective opening?
5. What are the main ideas the speaker is presenting? Briefly outline them.
6. How does the speaker conclude? What is used to give a memorable ending? How does the audience respond?
7. What ONE positive technique or skill can you take from this speaker and use in your speeches?
Some Speeches are listed below.
http://www.history.com/speeches
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/