English Language Arts B10

Speech Assignment

A formal speech is used to inform or explain, to persuade, or to entertain. Effective

speeches are carefully prepared, rehearsed, sincere and energetically delivered. A speech
focuses on audience, purpose, and situation (Who is your speech directed to? What do
you want to achieve? Why are saying the speech?). The main focus of this assignment
will be to persuade your jurors into agreeing with your position.

Persuasive writing is a means of getting the reader to consider and accept a particular
opinion or point of view. When you create a persuasive paragraph you want to organize
your arguments in a certain order: Logical order – 4231.
4 - least convincing argument or sentence
2 – your second-best argument or fact
3 – third most convincing argument
1 - most important and influential fact, argument, or sentence

Topic: You are a lawyer listening to the evidence on whether to charge Lieutenant
Commander Oram guilty for his actions. You must create a closing speech that
summarizes your position on the case. You can either be defending or prosecuting the
Commander for his action – the choice is yours.

A. Preparation:
Your speech must include the following:

• General introduction to the court (i.e., Afternoon ladies and gentlemen of the
court…)

• A catchy beginning that catches the reader’s attention. This can be accomplished
with a startling statement, quotation, or rhetorical question.

• A clear introduction, body, and conclusion. To help your speech use transitional
words such as: first, another example is, in conclusion. This will help the reader
follow your train of thought.

• Your conclusion could include one of the following: restatement of thesis,

quotation, summary, anecdote, or a call for action.

Your speech will be three paragraphs in length. You will be required to complete
pre-writing activity to organize thoughts (i.e., chart, spider web, etc), a typed rough
draft, and typed good copy with a cover page.
 • Pre-writing (evidence of organization) /5
• Rough Draft (editing and proofreading) /5
• Cover Page /2
• HRHS Style Sheet Requirements
(12 font, double spaced, two spaces after end punctuation, numbers) /2
• Good Copy

Audience address /2
Catchy beginning /2
Effective conclusion /2
Organization of thoughts /5
COPS /5
Total: _____
30
B. Presentation and Delivery

Be sure to prepare yourself by reviewing your speech before class. You can use index
cards but the speech should be memorized. Your speech will be evaluated on the
following:

• Pacing /2
• Articulation /2
• Eye Contact /2
• Volume /2
• Good Posture /2
• Memorized /5

Total: ____
15