The Art of Persuasion

LO: To explore what it is that makes an excellent speech writer and public speaker.

By the end of this Unit:

• Some will be able to use rhetoric and persuasive devices to write and perform an engaging and effective speech.

• Most will be able to identify rhetoric and begin to use persuasive devices to write and perform an engaging and effective speech.

• All will be able to use persuasive devices to write and perform a speech.

Which film won 7 awards at the Baftas?

Hint: starred Colin Firth

Let’s have a look…

The King’s Speech

This amazing film tells the story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it. What do the underlined words mean?

(Dictionary Challenge)

The King’s Speech shows that….

An excellent speech does not require a brilliant orator - anyone can do it! Aside from King George VI, Winston Churchill is commonly regarded as one of the greatest speakers in the English language, yet he regretted the lack of practice in public speaking that he would have gained had he gone to university and he suffered from a slight lisp and a stammer. The key is preparation.

Who can name some other well-known orators?

Here are just a few…

John F. Kennedy

Martin Luther King

Barak Obama

Nelson Mandela

Margaret Thatcher

Task…

Write 3 headings:

Martin Luther King Winston Churchill John F Kennedy

Take notes on the following when listening to excerpts of their speeches

What is each speech about?

How do they deliver their speech?

What language devices do they use?

Which one do you find most interesting and engaging?

Let’s listen to some excerpts from their famous speeches…

http://www.no-fear-public-speaking.com/exampleofpublicspeaking.html

Pay attention, you may have to answer questions on these speeches!

As you listened to those examples, I hope you felt something.If you did, it might be worth going back and working out what exactly hooked you in.

QUESTIONS

Choose your favourite speech and explain what it was about….

What was interesting about the speaker’s delivery?

What was interesting about the language devices they used?

Why was this speech your favourite?

Martin Luther King

‘I have a Dream’

• http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

No-Fear Public Speaker!!!

These examples stand out among the thousands of examples of public speaking from the 20th Century.

Work out why ... and you will be well on your way to being a better, more persuasive and, most importantly, a no-fear public speaker.

What is Public Speaking?

Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners.

Who is scared of speaking in public?

‘Stage Fright’

The common fear of public speaking is called glossophobia.

When asked to get up in front of an audience, people can suffer common reactions like sweaty palms, increased heart rate, increased levels of anxiety, loss of focus and even in extreme cases, vomiting and fainting!

Task

• Be prepared to share your memory with the class, be it good or bad!

Think of a time when you have had to speak publicly.

Write down the Who, What, Why, Where, and How for that event.

Did you enjoy speaking? Why? Why not?

Think

• What makes a good speech and presentation?