@The Arts Unit Creative Classes
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The secret behind great speeches
The secret behind great speeches
Student public speaking resource developed by The Arts Unit
Years 7 to 10 public speaking
What will I learn?
What will I learn?
You will:
consider what ‘public speaking’ means and the relationship between context, purpose and audience
analyse the specific context, purpose and common characteristics of a number of famous speeches
reflect on the difference between great speeches and less successful ones.
Welcome to the class
Duration: 00:23Before you begin
Before you begin
You'll need:
access to Google Slides or MS PowerPoint
pen and paper.
Remember a time when you had to give a speech to an audience.
Write down:
The occasion at which you were asked to speak
The reason you had to give the speech
What the audience was doing during your speech.
- Consider
Public speaking involves speaking in front of an audience. You may have had some experience with public speaking if you have had to deliver a speech in front of your class or at a school assembly.
Public speaking is a unique form of communication because it gives the speaker a set amount of uninterrupted time in which to communicate with their audience. However, if that time is not used effectively, the message can be lost.
That is why it is very important to use any opportunity we are given to communicate a message, wisely.
The first step in being able to do this is to identify the underlying purpose and context of our speech.
Task 1
Task 1
To begin, watch this clip by student Himaja Dave on being aware of your purpose.
Being aware of your purpose – Himaja Dave
Duration: 01:05The context for Himaja Dave's speech is a state final competition – you may identify the underlying purpose as being to win.
Speakers at this level of a competition, however, have the opportunity to pursue a larger purpose.
Watch Himaja Dave's speech from the Plain English Speaking Award NSW State Final 2019.
See if you can identify what Himaja’s larger purpose is.
Plain English Speaking Award 2019 – NSW State Final – Himaja Dave
Duration: 08:27Task 2
Task 2
Look at the following images and see if you can identify:
The context (situation or occasion) in which the speech is being given
The purpose of the speech.
Each of these scenarios involves someone ‘public speaking’ but each has a very different purpose and context, and these will affect the way the speech is delivered to the audience.
Can you think of any other real life contexts in which you may be asked to deliver a speech?
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6
Check your answers here:
Image 1: School student commemorating ANZAC Day.
Image 2: Religious leader informing or teaching their congregation.
Image 3: Lawyer persuading a jury to believe his side.
Image 4: Politician selling a principle or idea.
Image 5: Protester arousing sympathy for an issue they are passionate about.
Image 6: Best man proposing a toast at a wedding.
2. Analyse
2. Analyse
The general purpose of any speech is to communicate with the audience but there are a number of more specific purposes that make it an important skill to learn. Speakers may be trying to:
inform their audience about an important issue or event
persuade their audience to think differently about an issue, situation or person
inspire or motivate their audience during a difficult time
celebrate or honour another individual
say thank you for an award that they have received
arouse sympathy for an issue they feel passionate about
sell an idea, principle or way of life.
Task 3
Task 3
Watch the following speeches.
Paying close attention to the purpose and context of each, write down the following:
Who is speaking?
What is the context of the speech?
What is the specific purpose of the speech?
What do you notice about the speaker’s delivery? (Use any language you like to describe what the speakers are doing in order to achieve their purposes above. For example: the speaker repeats the phrase ‘Yes we can’ because he wants to emphasise that social change is possible if everyone has a positive, collective attitude towards it.)
How effective do you think the speech is in communicating the specific purpose to the audience? (Keep in mind that you do not necessarily have to agree with the content of the speech, but you are looking for the common characteristics of speakers who have an impact on their audience.)
Princess Diana’s Funeral 1997 – Earl Spencer’s eulogy
Duration: 08:38Adam Goodes – Australian of the Year 2014 acceptance speech
Duration: 04:47UN Climate Action Summit 2019 – Greta Thunberg’s address to world leaders
Duration: 05:19Apology to Indigenous Australians 2008 – Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Duration: 04:14March for our lives Anti Gun Rally 2018 – Emma Gonzalez address
Duration: 07:033. Reflect
3. Reflect
All of these speeches are quite different and the speakers themselves have their own distinct personalities.
All speakers have had a noticeable impact on their surrounding society.
Task 4
Task 4
Choose 1 speech from above that had the most impact on you personally and complete the following activities:
Did you find the topic interesting or did the speaker make it interesting in the way they approached it?
Did you feel you were challenged by the ideas of the speech?
Would you consider thinking differently about the issue presented?
How did the speaker respond to their audience?
How did the audience respond to the speaker?
Were there particular moments of interaction or engagement that you noticed?
Were there any common characteristics that you noticed among the speakers? Create a table of these common characteristics and add to it as you watch more powerful speeches.
Task 5
Task 5
Watch these examples of speeches that are not quite as effective as the ones you have already viewed.
Both these speeches are delivered by comedians and actors who are purposely doing things that they should not be doing.
Make a list of the things you identify that are ineffective.
Have you noticed any famous speakers doing similar things unintentionally?
Research task – Find some examples of speeches that are not very effective and make a list of ‘what not to do’.
Derek Zoolander eugoogly (watch until 01:19)
Duration: 01:19Taika Waititi TEDTalk on The Art of Creativity (watch until 02:16)
Duration: 02:16Check this list of 'what not to do' in speeches – did you have the same answers?
You may have noticed:
unnecessarily explaining a joke or a metaphor
awkward or inappropriate references
not focusing on the purpose at hand
yelling over an interruption
many 'ums' and 'ahs'
lists that don’t seem to go anywhere.
4. Final reflection
4. Final reflection
Task 6
Task 6
Go back to the notes you made at the beginning of this lesson on your own experience of delivering a speech.
What things would you consider improving at this stage?
Remember that speeches vary greatly in style and presentation depending on:
The personality and experience of the speaker
The context and purpose of the speech.
You may have only had limited experience as a public speaker so far, but you should try to use any opportunity you are given to speak confidently and passionately.
Even if you are doing a class speech, you still have the freedom to interpret a topic so that you can fulfil a specific purpose and inject your own personality so that your audience gains something from the experience as well.
After all, any experience gained will prepare you for all those public speaking opportunities that will continue to come your way!
Congratulations!
You have completed this
@The Arts Unit @Creative Class.
Good luck with your next speech!
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