CMST100--Fundamentals of Public Speaking  

Contemporary Issue   August 6, 7, 8, exam period.

• Time--6-8 Minutes speaking time.
• Value: 30% of final grade
• Required--Typed outline with bib page, Mini DVD R, feedback sheet.
• Sources--Minimum of ten, four different forms (ask me about appropriate evidence).
• Approval--by me (we'll be doing this in class)
• Note--if you use note cards, they can only contain key words or quotations.

Assignment--This speech is meant to show your ability to construct a reasonable policy on an issue and represent the collective interests of a group (rather than an expression of your interests alone). In short, after our class chooses a topic, you will either choose a group or be assigned to one and will represent its interests throughout this round of speeches.

For example, let's say the class chose to discuss whether the United States should have a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Each person in the class would then be "hired" to speak in the interests of one of a variety of groups or individuals. The class would have spokespersons for President Bush, the Christian Coalition, the Republican Party, the ACLU, Lambda, etc. Your job is to create a policy that represents the interests of the group you are "hired" to represent and to speak in their interests throughout the round of speeches. Topics and the past have varied from international issues (e.g., global policies toward terrorism, the Israel-Palestine question), national political issues (e.g., legalization of drugs), ethical questions (e.g., genetic engineering), and questions of sports (e.g., how to carry out Title IX). The topic choice should reflect this class' interests. The group you choose to represent should be a group that you would choose to work for "in real life."

In this round of speeches, the feedback session will be waived in favor of a question-answer period. That is, each speaker will be given 15 minutes to speak and respond to questions posed by the audience. The speech should not go longer than 8 minutes with the time remaining spent answering questions from the audience. While you may speak as long as you want up to 15 minutes, I suggest you leave at least 7 minutes for questions as one portion of your grade will come from your ability to respond to questions. Each of you will maintain your representative role throughout the round and hence will both ask and answer questions from the perspective of the group you represent. Remember, no one would hire you to sit quietly and not represent their interests, so speak up whenever your group would have something to say on an issue.

Evaluation:

Your evaluation this time will be derived from three areas:

1. the speech itself.
2. your ability to answer questions from the perspective of the group you represent.
3. your ability and willingness to ask questions in an attempt to protect the interests of your perspective (the evaluation of your speech and ability to answer questions can be raised or lowered up to a full letter grade contingent upon this third category).

• --organization: is the speech organized well in the outline? Does the speech appear organized as delivered? Was the audience confused or did they understand the effort?
• --outline: does it fit the requirements? Does it show evidence of a well thought out plan of action?
• --delivery: Simply put, does the delivery detract from the message or add to it? (Did you create a climate in which conversation with the audience would be possible?)
• --style: Were relevant words chosen? Did the speaker utilize discourse that detracted from, or added to, the message?
• --policy: Did the speaker clearly point out the problems (need), note the way in which the policy satisfies the need (and refute opposition to it), show that it will indeed work, and clearly explain the policy?

Hints

• Research your group (its history, interests, positions on other policies, etc.) thoroughly before you begin researching the policy itself. Remember, you are to represent this group's interests and have been hired to speak for them in a public forum. Hence, you must know what they would say.
• Speak firmly on your position as if it were your own (e.g., don't say, "Well, I don't really believe this but Bush would say . . . "
• Rehearse the speech well enough to leave time for questions. You do not want to lose points on your evaluation simply because you were not ale to respond to questions. You may want to set up hand signals with one of your classmates to make sure you do not speak over an allotted amount of time.
• Have questions prepared for other speakers as this is part of your evaluation. The class should NEVER want for discussion during this round.
• Prepare the speech just often enough that you can deliver it with a sense of freshness and spontaneity. Be willing to clarify, to leave your plan, if the situation calls for it.
• While each of us will always speak for a "foreign" interest (be it Iraq or Wyoming), let's not take our arguments personally. Put descriptive feedback into action as an "idea" even while we discuss policy. Remember, we speak to the policy, not the person.

If you need help, please either come by my office, call me (322-2988) or email me.

Return to CMST100 course page.