OBJECTIVES:

To practice organizing and preparing a speech.

To practice delivering a speech using manuscript reading and extemporaneous delivery styles.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The Current Event Mini Speech is a 1-2 minutes speech in which you will summarize a current event. Select a news story which is of particular interest to you from any local or national newspaper, online news source, or news magazine. Plan to develop and organize your mini speech using the following outline:

Introduction: State your name and the name of this speech (Current Event Mini-speech). Identify the title of the story, the date, and the source of the article. Describe the theme of the article in one sentence (what the story is about). READ THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE ARTICLE.

Body: In about three points or so tell us what the article is about. Focus on communicating with your audience the essentials of the story. (Here you are practicing extemporaneous delivery - you should know what you want to say and refer to your notes only occasionally. Look up at us and talk to us like you're telling a friend about an interesting story you came across.)

Conclusion: Explain why this story caught your attention, why you think it is important, and if appropriate, if you agree or disagree with the story.

EXPECTATIONS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA:

1. Choose your article from any reputable news source. Prepare your presentation by jotting down notes that fit each part of the speech described above. Next, read over your notes and determine what will fit in the 1 to 2 minutes time limit. On an index card (5" x 8"), write down key words to jog your memory while delivering your speech. Practice your speech with your cards so that you know it well and know it fits the time requirements.

2. You will NOT need to gather your own audience for this speech. You will record your speech and submit your video on Connect for your classmates to watch. Try to speak conversationally and loud enough so all can hear you, and look at your audience (the camera). SMILE. Glance only occasionally at your notes.

3.  Current Event Mini-Speech

INTRODUCTION:

Identified title, date & source of article used
Described theme of the article in one sentence
Read first sentence of article (manuscript reading)

BODY:

Summarized three important points of article

CONCLUSION:

Explained why article was selected
Described importance or opinion on article

DELIVERY:

Looked up occasionally while speaking
Smiled occasionally at audience
Sounded extemporaneous and conversational (not memorized or read)
Projected voice so all could hear
Used appropriate & audience-inclusive language (avoided slang or profanity)

OVERALL EVALUATION:

Fulfilled 1 to 2 minutes time requirement
Delivered speech while standing (not sitting down)