1) Find a speech to analyze. It can be a speech by any person, from any time period. It can be taken from a textual printing of the speech (as one would find in a book), an audio or visual recording, or a live, in-person observation. If you do intend to write about a live observation, please make some form of recording of the speech for reference purposes.

2) Study the speech. Read is many times over. Watch/listen to it again and again. Internalize it, study it, and makes notes as you do so.

3) Conduct a critical analysis with some of the following questions in mind:

• What was the context under which this speech was presented? Who delivered it? When and where? For what audience and to what purposes/goals?

• Was the speech, in your opinion, good or bad? Was it both? What did the speaker do effectively, and what could they have done differently to create a better speech?

• Was the speech effective at achieving its intended communication outcomes? Why or why not?

• How were you personally affected by the speech? Were you personally affected by it? Why/why not?

• Why is this speech important/significant? Why did you choose to study and write about this particular speech?