semantics speech

Speech of Words Instructions

This assignment explores the idea of Semantics, the way people use language to evoke meaning in others.

You will need to select an area where you have some area of expertise. These areas are typically found in your hobbies, careers, or cultures.

For example here several examples that I might choose to pull from if I was giving this speech:

· Colleges

· Football

· Video Games

· Beauty Industry

· Sales

· Restaurants

Once you have selected your area, then you will need to think about 3 words that are purposefully chosen by people in that area. These words should be words that are used for a specific purpose, typically to further the agenda of the people associated with the industry.

Expectations and Requirements

Speech Topic	Pick an area of your life where you consider yourself an ‘expert’
Speech Length	About 2 minutes
Research	No source citations required
Delivery	Extemporaneous
Outline	Must be saved as a Microsoft Word File (.DOCX) or (.PDF)

You will then give a speech about 2 minutes in length. You will share your 3 words along with an attention getting device and full circle conclusion.

Speech of Words Sample Outline

If you have a good example, you should be able to fit your example into this sentence.

Instead of saying _Coronavirus______________

This group _Politicians______________

Say _Covid-19______________

Because _It makes them sound more intelligent ______

For example, if I chose ‘Fast Food Restaurants’ as my topic, I would then need to provide 3 examples of not changing reality, but just changing the label (or words) used to describe something.

Example 1: In 2006 Wendy’s changed the names of its ‘Biggie’ (32 oz) and ‘Great Biggie’ (42 oz) soft drinks to ‘Medium’ (32 oz) and ‘Large’ (42oz).

This was right after the “Super Size Me” documentary that outraged many Americans about how unhealthy fast food is, and how bad drinking sugary drinks are for you. They didn’t stop serving such large sizes, they just stopped calling them ‘Biggie’ and ‘Great Biggie’.

This example is a perfect example of not changing reality, but just changing the label. I would award this example full credit for providing a perfect example.

This next example would NOT be a good example.

Example 2: After the ‘Super Size Me” documentary in 2004 McDonald’s dropped it’s 42oz ‘Super Sized’ fountain drink due to increasing public scrutiny. They no longer carried a 42oz fountain drink.

This example is a bad example of not changing reality, but just changing the label. This type of example would NOT receive full credit as this is not a change in ‘Semantics’ this is a change in reality. McDonalds actually changed their menu, they didn’t just call it something different.

Attention Getter / Full Circle Ending

Another part of this assignment will be to introduce your topic in an interesting and engaging way. You should avoid simply telling us your name and what your topic is.

Example 1 (Attention Getter): My name is Joby and I’m going to do my Speech of Words about fast food restaurants.

0/5 There was nothing interesting or engaging about the way you introduced your speech topic to the class.

Check your textbook for good example of ways to start a speech. A few of my favorite ways are:

Example 2 (Attention Getter): Tell us a story that connects you to your topic:

· When I was in college, my normal routine was to get out of class at 3pm and then hit up McDonalds on my way home. My mouth would start watering when I smelled the smell of the french fries and I would always order….

Example 3 (Attention Getter): Create a hypothetical example:

· What if I told you that your favorite fast food restaurant is right outside this door and they are going to give everyone in the class your favorite ice cold beverage for free. What drink would you order?

A good attention getter should accomplish one of two goals. It should either be:

1. Vivid: Something that has been described so well that it gets an emotional response out of the audience.

a. Don’t just tell us that ‘french fries are good’, tell us that “the fries were so hot and fresh that they had that perfect little crunch, but still had the soft chewy center that you always craved after a long day at school.

b. The goal here is to take the audience on an emotional journey. Be precise and detailed with your words.

2. Shocking: You would need to present NEW information (statistics, quotes, experiments) that shocks the audience. This is MUCH harder to pull off as the typical audience varies widely, and you can never really know what things they know or don’t know.

a. “Did you know that eating fast food 3 times a week will take 15 years off of your life expectancy”?

b. This information needs to shake the foundations of what the audience believes.

Full Circle Ending:

However you choose to start your speech, you would need to finish your presentation going back to where you started.

Example 2 (Full Circle): My normal fast food order would involve a 42oz coke, Large Fries and a Double Quarter Pounder with cheese. That coke alone would be the same as eating 40 sugar cubes.

Example 3 (Full Circle): At the start of my speech, I posed the question about selecting your favorite drink for free. What if I told you that the drink is free, but it will take 2 weeks off your lifespan. Are you still thirsty?

Thesis Statement & Restate Thesis:

You will be asked to preview and review your 3 main points in your speech.

Your thesis statement should write itself, it simply takes the 3 main concepts you plan on talking about and clearly previews what they are in a simple sentence.

After delivering your speech, you will simply restate your thesis in the past tense.

Grading Rubric (50 points)

Attention Getter (AG) (0-5 points)

1 point Did not attempt any type of AG

2 points Just told us your name and your topic

3 points Attempted an AG, but lacked energy or detail

4 points Nearly perfect

5 points Was either vivid or shocking and slowly introduces your topic to the audience.

Thesis (0-5 points)

1 point Did not attempt any type of Thesis

2 points Just vaguely previewed your topic

3 points Stated some topics, but incomplete

4 points Stated 3 topics, but out of order

5 points Stated 3 unique topics in the same order listed on your outline

Main Points 1-3 (0-10 points) x3

2 point Did not attempt or skipped a main point.

4 points Just told us your word, but didn’t offer any reason why. Or incorrect application of

changing the label and not reality.

6 points Covered your main point, but lacked good rationale.

8 points Covered and explained your main point adequately.

10 points Covered and explained, providing a source citation (if needed)

Restate Thesis (0-5 points)

1 point Did not attempt to restate your Thesis

2 points Just vaguely reviewed your topic

3 points Stated some topics, but incomplete

4 points Stated 3 topics, but out of order

5 points Stated 3 unique topics in the same order listed on your outline

Full Circle (FC) (0-5 points)

1 point Did not attempt any type of FC ending

2 points Ended your speech by saying ‘that's it’ or ‘I’m done”

3 points Attempted an FC, but lacked energy or details

4 points Your FC tied in with your AG.

5 points Your FC was either vivid or shocking connected to the AG you started with.