PART I: SHORT RESPONSE

Write a response to the following prompt using proper APA Style.

Prompt: In this activity, you will watch a video clip of a speech.  You will apply effective methods of critiquing a speech to prepare written feedback that you would provide to the person who delivered the speech.  You will also evaluate your feedback in terms of how the person receiving it could best respond to it to improve his or her next speech.

Step 1: Review the information presented in Module 2 about the elements of speech that are commonly evaluated.  These include the following:

• Speaker Commitment to the Subject
• Suitable to the Occasion and Audience
• Clear Purpose
• Fresh Point of View
• Ethics

   

  Step 2: Select one of the following informative speeches to view and critique:

  Click here to access information from Van Gogh’s Incredible Life

   

  Click here to access information from Getting to Know the Elderly

   

  Step 3: As a starting point for writing your critique of the speech, use the following table to organize your feedback:

Speech Title
Criteria	Questions to Ask Yourself	Comments
Speaker Commitment to the Subject	How important is the subject to the speaker?
Appropriateness for Audience and Occasion	Is the topic and delivery relevant and useful to the audience?
Clear Purpose	Can you identify the goal(s) the speaker has for delivering the speech?
Fresh Point of View	Does the speech challenge the audience to think about something in a new way?
Ethics	Does the speaker tell the truth and have the best interest of the audience at heart?
Substance	Does the speech content provide new information supported by facts, statistics, and so-on?
Structure	Is the flow of information given in the speech well organized so the speech flows from one topic to the next?

 

Step 4: Enter the title of the speech you selected in the Speech Title row at the top of the table.

Step 5: Watch the speech, pausing as necessary, and enter any initial thoughts that may be useful in writing your critique of the speech.

Step 6: Review the information in Module 2 that covers strategies for giving effective feedback.  The recommendations given in the lesson include the following:

• Begin the critique by making a positive statement.
• Focus on select areas for improvement.
• Make your comments in an organized fashion.
• Provide specific feedback about what needs to be improved.
• Be honest, but respectful and tactful, in your comments.
• Personalized comments by indicating how you were influenced by the content or behavior, using “I” instead of “you.”
• Stress the positive aspects of the speech.
• Offer specific suggestions on how to correct a problem.
• Provide a plan of action for how to improve the next speech with examples.
• End the critique with a positive statement.

   

  Step 7: Use your speech evaluation table and guidelines for giving effective speech feedback to write a critique of the speech you selected.

  Step 8: Review the information in the lesson that provides guidelines for handling feedback you receive from others.  These guidelines include the following:

• Be sure to focus on what is being said about your speech and your presentation – not how it is being conveyed to you.
• Avoid taking the feedback personally or emotionally.
• When feedback is general or vague, seek out specific problems and suggestions from the feedback source.
• Evaluate the feedback provided using your critical thinking abilities.
• Prepare a plan of action for improving your speech and presentation skills prior to delivering the next speech.

   

  Step 9: Put yourself in the shoes of the presenter whose speech you watched and critiqued.  Imagine that you are the speaker who received the critique that you wrote.  For each guideline you reviewed in Step 8, write a sentence or more that documents your thoughts about the critique comments and observations.  How would you use the information, observations, and suggestions in the critique to deliver your speech more effectively?

  Step 10: Save and submit your document.  Remember to use proper APA Style.

PART II: SHORT RESPONSE

Write a response to the following prompt using proper APA Style.

Prompt: You will read a short case study, analyze the information it contains about audience analysis, and write responses to questions related to audience analysis and its importance.

Step 1: Review the information presented in Module 2 regarding techniques used in conducting an audience analysis and methods for changing a speech based on audience response or demographics.

Step 2: Read the following case study and analyze the implications of the information provided in terms of audience analysis.

• Case Study: You are preparing a persuasive speech.  The goal of your speech is to convince an audience of the value of allowing employees to work from home at least one day per week.
• Audience Analysis Before the Speech: As you are starting to prepare your speech, you decide to send a survey to the audience members to determine some information about them.  Eighty percent of the audience members respond to your survey.  Your compilation of the responses to the survey questions are indicated in the following table:

Question	% of Respondents who answered Yes	% of Respondents who answered No
Do you live more than 10 miles from your workplace?	70%	30%
Does the majority of the type of work that you do involve working on tasks that could be done from virtually any location?	50%	50%
Is your work performance judged primarily on tasks you perform versus managing others?	80%	20%
Do you believe conserving energy is an initiative that you should try to support?	70%	30%
Does your work environment contain more potential distractions than your home environment?	40%	60%

• Audience Analysis During the Speech: While you are delivering your speech, you pay attention to the non-verbal signals the audience members provide.  The following table summarizes the audience member behaviors that you notice:

Your Statement	Audience Behavior
Allowing workers to telecommute at least one day a week can lead to increased employee productivity.	One audience member crossed his arms and looked at the clock on the wall.
Telecommuting saves gasoline and helps reduce traffic and air pollution.	A few audience members maintain eye contact with you and nod.
Allowing employees to telecommute potentially allows employers to reduce their real estate footprint.	About half the audience members looked confused.
Setting up a home office and adhering to a normal work schedule is one way to be productive when working from home.	Most audience members look interested, and a few sit up straight and have questioning expressions.

• Audience Analysis After the Speech: After you finish your speech, you go into the lobby where refreshments are being served.  As you wait in line, one of the audience members approaches you and says the following:

  “I enjoyed your speech.  There are a few points that you made that I am not sure I agree with, but overall I can see some potential value in allowing employees to telecommute one day per week.  Can you recommend any sources where I might be able to find data to show to some other managers at my company that supports your claim that allowing workers to telecommute can lead to increased productivity?”

   

  Step 3: Answer the following sets of questions.

  Before

   

1. Which survey question and corresponding results provide the most evidence of audience support for your goal prior to the audience members hearing your speech?  Justify your answer.
2. Which question and corresponding results provide the most evidence that it might be difficult to achieve the goal for your speech?  Justify your answer.
3. What would you do during the speech preparation phase to maximize the likelihood of convincing this audience that your position is valid?  Provide some specific steps you would take to prepare your speech to meet the needs of the audience based on the survey results.

 

During

 

1. Which audience behaviors during the speech seem to indicate support for the statements you made?  What could you do during your speech delivery to capitalize on the apparent support?
2. Which audience behaviors during the speech seem to indicate opposition to the statements that you made?  Describe what you would do during your speech delivery to try to overcome the apparent opposition.
3. Do any of the listed audience behaviors imply anything other than support or opposition?  If so, which one(s)?  What would you do during your speech delivery to respond to this/these behaviors?

    

   After

    

1. Assume you are going to deliver the same speech to a different audience the following week.  Based on the verbal feedback you receive after the speech from the audience member, what steps would you take to improve the speech for your next delivery?
2. If none of the audience members approach you after the speech, what would you do?  Why is it important to get feedback from audience members after you deliver a speech?

    

   Step 4: Save and submit your document.  Remember to use proper APA Style.

PART III: SHORT RESPONSE

Write a response to the following prompt using proper APA Style.

Prompt: You will select a topic of your choice and write specific purpose and thesis statements based on that topic for an informative, persuasive, and celebratory speech.

Step 1: Imagine that you need to submit a proposal for an informative speech, a persuasive speech, and an entertaining or celebratory speech about one topic of your choice.

Step 2: Use the table below to complete the following Steps.

Topic	General Purpose	Specific Purpose	Thesis
	Inform
	Persuade Audience
	Entertain/Celebrate

*Please note that the following introduction is different in content from the introduction you are writing.  This is just an example of how your work should look like when you turn it in.*

I. Introduction

A. Shopping online may be more convenient for some; however, nothing can truly replace shopping in an actual store.

B. Most believe that shopping online can save time, but when buying certain items, it may be best to visit the actual store and try the product out beforehand.  Many times, online policies can be difficult to comprehend, especially in regards to returning merchandise.

C. The traditional way of shopping is more efficient than online shopping because a product can be tried out before being purchased, the price can be determined accurately, and physical activity is involved in the process.

Shopping online may be more convenient for some; however, nothing can truly replace shopping in an actual store.  Most believe that shopping online can save time, but when buying certain items, it may be best to visit the actual store and try the product out beforehand.  Many times, online policies can be difficult to comprehend, especially in regards to returning merchandise.  The traditional way of shopping is more efficient than online shopping because a product can be tried out before being purchased, the price can be determined accurately, and physical activity is involved in the process.