Senior Speeches in Term 3

We have always considered speechmaking to be an essential skill in the Senior area of our school.

Every year our Year 4, 5 and 6 children prepare a speech related to a current topic or interest the children may have expressed during the year.

This is a sample of our preparation steps suggested to the children several weeks before they were expected to stand up in front of their peers to present a prepared speech.

                                   HAUMOANA SCHOOL

                   SENIOR SYNDICATE SPEECHES

D                           Term 3 2014
                              SYNDICATE AIM                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           To have every child in Year 4-6 prepare a speech using resources with speech tools of prompt cards to present    
                               an audience for a duration of at least 3 minutes.

A                             ACHIEVEMENT OBJECTIVE;

                               Using the Curriculum Strand of Speaking, Writing and Presenting, and the Substrand  Purposes and Audiences  
                               students will-
                                        Show a developing understanding of how to shape texts for a variety of purposes and audiences.
                            
                                IND ICATORS (from the Curriculum);
                                Constructs texts that show an audience awareness through careful choice of content, language and form.
                                Conveys and sustains personal voice where appropriate.

     T                                TOPIC CHOICE;
                                                    # How a creature, culture or person can be influenced by its environment.

                                                    # The environment must be emphasized as to how that creature, culture or person     
                                                                               and adapted to be a success.

                                                    # Suggestions on the topics-
                                                        * The creature is shown to adapt, survive, thrive, change, in its environment.
                                                        * A group of people eg. Nomads, Innuit, Aboriginals, Amazonians, live in a
                                                           demanding environment regarding, shelter, food, clothing, weather,and
                                                           can still survive.
                                                        * The person has had an impact on the world due to the influence of his/her
                                                           environment such as parents, home life, schooling, mentors and other ways of  
                                                           shaping their life.

                                                    # There will be a need to highlight selected ‘Habits of Mind’ used by that creature,                                                                       group or person in order to display how they adapted, survived or were successful.  

                                                    # Use of the speechmakers voice in some way by expressing their own opinion on
                                                       personal experience.

     P

                                           PREPARATION IN CLASSROOM;

1.      Tree mapping to show relationships and developments.

2.      Circle mapping on facts about the chosen event.

3.      Bubble mapping to look at specific components.

4.      Gathering resources from encyclopedias, internet and library.

5.      Begin notetaking, and setting up prompt cards.

6.      Practice verbalising speech ideas.

7.      Present a speech in the classroom using interesting content, language and form, with a good audience awareness and able to use personal voice.

8.      Selected speeches from each class will be  presented on________________________

Thank you for your support

Tony Chittenden

As part of the preparation we looked at all the aspects below to devise a good speech. Take note of these ideas if you need to present a speech in the future.

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD SPEECH

      Making a good speech starts with thorough preparation. You should have been thinking of themes and points, noting down ideas and sources, crafting phrases and sentences.

      The best speeches tell your audience things they didn't know and/or give them insights they didn't have. So:

      In respect of the first, research some salient, accurate and up-date facts and figures.

      In respect of the second, look at the subject differently - think 'out of the box'.

      You should have finalized the notes or text at least the day before, so that you can concentrate on reading through the material, becoming very familiar and comfortable with it, and thinking about the actual delivery.

      Once you are called upon to make your speech, pause for a couple of seconds before actually starting your delivery. If you've had to walk up to a platform or over to a rostrum, this gives you time to steady your breath. If you are nervous as a speaker, it gives you time to take a few shallow breaths and calm those nerves. In any event, it gives the audience an opportunity to settle down and focus on you and your message. But the pause should be a few seconds only.

      If you are not using a microphone, be aware of the need to speak sufficiently loudly that the furthest member of your audience can hear you clearly.

      If you are using a microphone, speak at normal volume, but a little more slowly and distinctly than if you were not using amplification.

      Occasionally alter the speed and volume of your delivery. Speaking slower or faster and quieter or louder adds dramatic effect and keeps the attention of your audience.

      Regularly sweep your eyes left-centre-right and back and front-middle-rear and back, so that you engage all members of your audience. The actor Tom Cruise once told an interviewer: "A lot of the time, what acting is really about is meeting someone's eye" - the same is true of public speaking.

      Don't make a rambling opening. There is nothing worse than the speaker who starts with something like: "When I was asked to speak on this subject, I wondered what to say .."

      Don’t use filler words.  Few elements distract an audience like unnecessary verbiage. 

      Make a dramatic opening which seizes the attention with the very first words. This might be a stirring statement: "This year we are going to make a fundamental transformation of our whole organization". It might be a challenging question: "How can we turn ourselves into an even more successful organization?" Whatever you do, don't ask a question that invites a cynical answer from your audience: "Are we the best organization in the country?"

      Have a very clear structure. A good technique is to tell your audience what you are going to say, tell them, and then tell them what you have said. A good structure is for the core message to be three linked points which can be sub-divided as necessary.

      Put the main verb early in the sentence, especially if it is a long sentence. So, not: "When we have all the facts and we have considered all the options, we shall make our decision". But instead: "We shall make our decision, when we have all the facts and we have considered all the options”.

      Consider the use of short sentences or even short phrases for dramatic effect. Examples of short sentences: "Failure is not an option" or” The place is here. The time is now. The prize is great". Examples of short phrases: "Never again", "No excuses".

      Use striking adjectives and adverbs. Not simply: "We face many challenges" but "We face many exciting challenges". Not simply: "We will work on our problems" but "We will work energetically on our problems".

      Consider the use of striking images in the form of metaphors or similes. For example: "an iron curtain" (Winston Churchill, 1946), "a paper tiger" (Mao Zedong, 1946),"the axis of evil" (George Bush, 2002).

      Make moderate use of alliteration in phrases or sentences. For example, some phrases: "broadband Britain", "the digital divide", "silver surfers". For example, some sentences: "The ballot is stronger than the bullet" (Abraham Lincoln, 1856) or "Now let us fulfill our mandate and our mission" (Gordon Brown, Labour Party Conference 2002) or "At our best when at our boldest" (Tony Blair, Labour Party Conference 2002).

      Consider the use of rhyme. For example: "We will fight to show that we are right".