Speech Analysis & Critique Assignment

Lindsay Jacobs

608 Words

Speech Analysis & Critique Assignment

Please view a speech/speaker outside of class and write a critique of his/her performance. This could be a speech/presentation that you attend in-person (please do NOT critique one of your professors.) However, if attending a live speech isn’t possible, a famous speech from history or a speech from TED.com will do. You must pick a formal speech presentation (not just a random person presenting their thoughts on Youtube or a monologue from a movie.) You do not need to include the link to where you found the speech. There MUST be both an audio and visual component to your chosen speech/speaker. YOU WILL RECEIVE 50% OFF IF IT DOESN’T HAVE BOTH. This is your chance to watch a speech you never otherwise would. It could be a speech from a President or some other historically significant figure, a graduation/commencement speech, a motivational speech, etc. DO NOT pick MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech or Dr. Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk: “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are.”

1. Tell us who you viewed (Who is the speaker? What is his/her background? Credentials? Don’t just assume we know who this person is.) Does the speech have a title? If so, what is the title. Be extremely brief and concise to avoid a penalty for directions. No more than 50 words!

2. Briefly summarize what the main points/key ideas were that the speaker presented. In other words, if you had to sum up the whole speech presentation in 50 words or less, how would you summarize it? Be extremely brief and concise to avoid a penalty for directions

3. Analyze the speaker’s use of voice. Please discuss what you observed about each of the following: volume (too loud/soft or easy to hear), rate/pace (too fast/ slow or steady pace?), tone of voice (the emotion you heard behind the words), pauses (purposeful for dramatic effect or awkward/losing place), stumbles or smooth flowing? did the speaker use filler/repeat words? (i.e. “uh,” “um,” like,” “you know” etc,) clear articulation or mumbled/hard to understand, good vocal variety/captivating or monotone/dull voice?

4. Analyze the speaker’s use of body. Please discuss what you observed about each of the following: eye contact (did the speaker look up or look down at notes/teleprompter? Did he/she scan the entire room?) posture (upright or slouched?) stance (stand in place or move around?) purposeful and/or distracting movement (fidgeting, shifting, bouncing, rocking, pen clicking, swaying, etc,) gestures (too much or too little? Did gestures enhance or distract?) and personal appearance (was it appropriate for the occasion?) #3 & #4 should be the bulk of your paper!

5. Putting your personal feelings to the side, objectively critique what you observed. Tell us the ONE most ineffective aspect of the presentation. Tell us the ONE most effective thing the speaker did.

Quality/Quantity- Reflects understanding of the material, includes relevant content, is well organized and easy to follow. How thoroughly do you answer the questions? Do you meet the minimum word count requirement?	Directions – If you don’t include your word count you will earn a zero for directions.	Spelling / Grammar
2 Good – Thorough in both quality and quantity	1 Follows all directions	1 Free from error
1 Fair – Issues with quality and/or quantity	0 Doesn’t follow all	0 Errors
0 Poor – Major issues with quality and/or quantity	directions

-Your critique should be minimum 500+ words long, typed, double spaced, standard margins, 12 point, Times New Roman font. Simply put your name at the top along with your word count. Then number your answers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. No title page is required. Write in complete sentences, not just words or phrases. Don’t re-write the questions. Proofread for major spelling/grammar issues.