2024-25 Brooklyn Park First Year

Brooklyn Park

Speech Class Schedule - Thursday – 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Dates for presenting main speeches are underlined.

Class Date Topic

1 09/14 Why am I doing this? (Good question!) :) I enjoyed our first class, meeting students and some parents! We talked about why good speech skills are necessary, heard some slips from well-known folks from all walks of life, talked a little about how we develop those skills, and looked at opportunities to use our skills at this time of life. I read some unique commencement speeches from the past. Students have a short homework assignment. They are to write out some specific information about a well-known speech (or at least well-known at the time it was presented) on a 3" x 5" card for next week (a few speeches may not be used). The information about the assignment was given on a half-sheet handout. A copy of the speech is not needed.

Also fill out the Wise Words About Wise Words form (I used the KJV), the form regarding something someone said to you that still affects you today and why (negatively or positively), and the Favorites sheet (both sides).

Good to meet you all! This should be a great class. Thanks.

2 09/21 Listening Skills (Oh, good, I don’t have to speak yet!) Today we looked at why listening is such an important skill and how to become better listeners. We listened in on a conversation (if you could call it that), responded to some activities, and went over the assignments. There are three short assignments to reinforce this - 1) Memorize Proverbs 1:5, 2) Engage an adult in a conversation using the five steps we went over (see handout), then write a short paragraph about the experience on a 3" x 5" card, and 3) Listen to a speech and critique it using the questions from the handout. Jot down your notes on a 3" x 5" card. Thanks, and have a great week!

3 09/28 Introducing…gestures, body movement, fears, etc. - Introducing…gestures, body movement, fears, etc.- We took a look at how Moses responded to God when asked to speak for Him. May our response to the Lord be of a cooperative nature! Patrick Henry's first speech, while defending the farmers in the Parson's Cause, also showed how real fear can be. Because of Henry's passion and determination, he spoke from his heart and became one of the best-known speakers America has had. We also considered our own personal fears about speaking, how to deal with those fears, and how being prepared makes a big difference. Body movement, gestures, and facial expression were also discussed. Students are to reread their notes and continue to be good listeners in accordance to the verse we're memorizing. They also have a homework assignment (details are on a handout) where they can choose between two small research projects. They are to either find information about a person who suffered from and overcame a speech impediment, or speech where something didn't go well but perhaps turned out for the good in the end. This should be a fun assignment to work on and be interesting to hear about next week in class. Please jot down your notes on a 3" x 5" or "4" x 6" note card. Students were also challenged but not required to find out who in Scripture told God they were too young to speak when He asked them to. Let's see who comes with the correct answer! :)

4 10/05 Voice and enunciation - We discussed many ways to use our voices well. Part of doing so is breathing correctly, watching punctuation, and pronouncing each word so that every sound is heard. We talked about using plosives in our speaking. Then we did some exercises together to practice our enunciation skills. Students are to fill out activity #15 from the handouts. These will be handed in next week. Have a great one!

5 10/12 Introduction to Interpretive Speeches - Today marked the beginning of a new topic. We began our study of Interpretive speeches. We touched on characterization, movement, voices, etc. Also discussed were the different types of Interps we'll be doing for class. There is a lot of work that needs to go into this speech to make it come alive as the author intended. We'll continue our study and preparation in the weeks ahead. Students should begin looking for material to present in November.

6 10/26 Finding good material and writing good introductions - We continued our study of interpretive speeches. I brought a variety of books and materials to help students see the various possibilities in finding material. We talked about the importance of finding a piece that we could relate to and could present well to our audience. The importance of developed characters, voice, movement, facial expression, etc., was also reinforced. Introductions to our speech are also very important. They either get the attention immediately or turn our audience off to what we hope to convey. We discussed the need for a strong hook, creatively including the author's name and title of our selection and giving just enough info to set up the scene. A few students were able to practice interpretive skills front with short stories. Homework - Rewrite three of the poor examples of introductions on the handouts and reread the handouts. Continue to look for material for your interps and bring to class next week what you are planning as your choice. These will be handed in. Have a great week.

7 11/02 Examples of poor and excellent interpretations - We began class with students reading through some of their rewritten introductions. Nice job, students! Next, we watched others perform (North Metro national competitors) by way of video to help us learn what is expected, and how to prepare for our own presentations. While the expectation for students isn't to perform at the same level, I do expect everyone to do their very best! That means working hard and practicing as much as possible. Ima Fuddletongue also visited our class and presented very poorly. Why is it she never seems to improve? Keep working on your speeches! Please bring a typed, double-spaced copy of your speech script to class next week, along with colored pencils. We'll do some dissecting of those in class, along with practicing for confidence and making eye contact.

8 11/09 Dissection of our Interpretive Speeches - We dissected our speech scripts in class today. Students should finish what they didn't get done. They were to highlight (with colored pencils) the various forms of puncuation, adverbs and adjectives. The punctuation is the roadmap for how sentences should be said. Adverbs tell us how words should be stressed because of action. Adjectives show us words we also may want to stress because they make something stand out a certain way.

Time your speeches while practicing them. Make sure they are a minimum of four minutes! Maximum should be eight minutes.

Students also practiced eye contact in preparation for their speeches (introductions only). They read short quips with the goal of every hand in the audience going down as each one had eye contact made with them. Questions, please ask! Thank you and enjoy. I look forward to these.

9 11/16 Oh, good! We present our Interpretive speeches. Can’t wait! Abigail, Adalynn, Caleb, Clara, David, Matthew, Samson, and William

11/23 Thanksgiving week off! Give thanks for all your blessings! No class

10 11/30 Finish presenting Interpretive speeches - Carter, Chloe, Delanie, Gabriel, Justin, and Ruth

11 12/07 Intro to Duo Interpretive speeches (and Tim's individual interpretive) This week I'll go over duo interpretive speeches. Students will be given duo/trio scripts that have already been assigned. These will be presented next week, Dec. 14. Each team will meet throughout the building so they can practice. Students, please use your time well and focus on your presentation as you practice. We may run a little late since we have a make-up speech as well.

12 12/14 Present Duo Interpretive speeches. These are a lot of fun! Parents, I'd encourage you to come and watch!

12/22-01/03 Christmas and New Year's Break! Celebrate Christ with your family! No classes and no homework over your break!

13 01/04 Introduction to Platform Speeches - Today was the start of a new unit. Students will be choosing a topic to present either an original oratory, persuasive, or expository speech. Give it a little thought based on what we learned about platform speeches. Keep in mind what each type entails and the purpose. The sooner you decide your topic, the sooner you can start jotting down your ideas and formulating your speech. Bring three ideas for topics next week.

14 01/11 Review of basic writing skills (sharpen pencils and minds!) - We spent some time reviewing a few historical platform speeches. We talked about introductions (which include a hook and our thesis statement, then transition into the body of the speech) and developing an outline. Students formed teams to form an outline for practice using an various topics. Start working hard to develop your own outline for your speech and writing down some ideas on note cards. A simple outline is due next week per the handout. HOMEWORK - Bring in a rough outline on a 3"x5" or 4"x6" notecard with the following: 1) The topic of your speech, 2) A thesis statement (complete sentence/s), and 3) Three main ideas you plan to speak on.

15 01/18 Putting it into practice - We'll continue working on the outline element and practice a bit. Also, we'll discuss more things to keep in mind as we write our speech. I'll be handing out practice speeches for students to present next week in class as practice. They should pay attention to the tone of the speech and attempt to give it as the real speaker would have. Homework: Next week a full outline is due.

16 01/25 More review, present practice speeches, and questions (keep writing!) Hand in full outlines.

17 02/01 Present platform speeches (half the class – 4-8 minutes) - Carter, Chloe, Delanie, Gabriel, Justin, Ruth, and Tim

18 02/08 Finish presenting platform speeches (half the class – 4-8 minutes) - Abigail, Adalynn, Caleb, Clara, David, Matthew, Samson and William

19 02/15 Introduction to the “Wonderful World of Impromptu” - I will introduce the concept and necessity of knowing how to come up with a brief impromptu (on the spot) speech. Most of our everyday speaking is on the spot, but thought should always be given to our tone and attitude. For an impromptu speech, we can quickly develop ideas through the use of an outline and a few supporting ideas such as short stories, examples, experiences, etc. We can use our own or those that others have had. Quotes and verses may be included. Students should bring their Bibles. A concordance would be very helpful as well.

20 02/22 Present impromptu speeches - All students will present a short speech given "on the fly". They will choose from three topics, have a few minutes to form an outline, then present these for the class. Key - just do your best! You've already been practicing these through the work of your other speeches. Your goal is to speak for two minutes.

Your future is full of opportunities to use what you've learned! Use your skills for the King of Kings!