A-plus writer (outline presntation)

Theme : Overlooked or Under-appreciated Technology. Please do not confuse the word technology with terms such as electronics, smart devices, computers and digital technology. To be sure, each of these terms DOES refer to technology, but in a broader scope, technology is anything human-made that has helped our species survive, thrive, and flourish. Inventions in medicine (from vaccines and X-rays, to CT scans, MRIs and surgical steel), communication (radio, telephone, cameras, writing, moveable type, microphones, television, the Internet – and an array of technologies and platforms that have come from it, like social media, books, movies/film), science (from rockets and jet planes to telescopes and submarines), general industry (automobiles, elevators, air conditioning, dead-bolt locks), even in fashion, military and agriculture, have contributed to the world we live in today. Yet how often have you thought about the disposable safety razor you may use to shavewith, or the ballpoint pen with which you write, or the watch you may have on your wrist, or the lights that illuminate the outdoors so we can see and be safe while out after dark?

Each of these technologies (and there are thousands more) has a story. Your job in this speech is to tell us the story of one of these items. What did each of these, and countless other inventions, allow humans to do that we had not been able to do before it came along? And how did it change us? For instance, what was our relationship to and concept of time before clocks were readily available, especially watches? Why might sliced bread have been such a big deal? What has air conditioning allowed us to do that we take for granted today? What did people with vision impairment do before eye glasses were invented? How did people manage their money before ATMs?

REQUIREMENTS (these replace those listed on the syllabus): With this speech you will have to be both informative and persuasive, and probably entertaining, too. You will need at least four cited sources. You will need to employ sound reasoning, use accurate evidence, balance emotion and reason, and keep us engaged. Consider this something of a sales job: You are going to want to convince us that, first, we take your technology for granted and, second, that we should not. Tell us why we really should not overlook or take for granted the technology you discuss in your speech. What would our lives be like without it?

Time: Shoot for four (4) minutes. You’ll get a signal at 3:30 that means you have approx 30-seconds remaining. At 4:30 you will hear me say “time” and you will have to stop. (This will ensure that we get through this speech round in the time allotted.)

Outline: We will again use a full-sentence Preparation Outline. Double-space it. You get to decide which organizational scheme (causal, chronological, etc.) makes the most sense for your speech.

Sources and Format: I am calling for four sources minimum. Frankly, this ought to be a good maximum. Too many more than this will likely impact the length of your speech. I will be looking for and listening for good verbal citations and a proper APA References list as a discrete page at the end of your outline.

Visual aid: Plan on employing some form of visual aid. If you can, bring an exemplar of your technology with you (non-lethal, non-threatening item only). If this is not practical, show us a picture or video.

Non-verbal: You’ll need to consider how to employ movement and gestures effectively.

Grading :

In general, I am going to be looking for speeches that are properly outlined (in an organizational pattern that suits your topic/technology) and prepared, with sufficient practice so that you have general mastery of the basic aspects and facets of your story. I will be looking for you to make proper use of your outline. (In other words, I’ll be looking favorably on those who consult their outlines but do not read long passages word for word from them.) You’ll properly cite your sources in your speech and they will be integrated into your narrative in a logical way. Since this is a persuasive speech, I’ll be looking at the reasoning you employ to argue that your technology is overlooked and under-appreciated. I’ll be looking for deft use of your visual aid(s) and your employment of proxemics and kinesics. I will be looking for you to take a risk or two.

(I may also have specific instructions for some of you. Each of you has a strength which, as such, needs less development via class work than something which may not yet be a strength for you. For some of you specific work is needed in getting beyond over-reliance on your outlines, whereas others may need to work on the use of gestures, or vocal projection. If you do get such an instruction from me, consider that that is going to be an aspect of how your speech is assessed and graded.)

“A”: Top marks will go to students who adhere to the structure and requirements of this assignment as discussed above. These students will show evidence of practice and preparation via use of their outlines as GUIDES and not SCRIPTS for delivery of their speeches. This will also reflect in the ease with which visual aids are used. Ideas will be organized, logical and accurate and sources will be properly cited. I will be looking for eye contact and other audience-centered techniques being employed, including proper vocal projection, speech rate, inflection, and gestures. Preparation outlines will adhere to the full- sentence format and include a proper APA “References” page. The reasoning you use to persuade us ought to be sound. You’ll finish in the 4-4 ½-minute range.

“B”: Very good but not outstanding work will resemble “A” work but be not quite as well organized or executed. Ideas may lack some logic or reasoning or solid supporting evidence. I’ll deduct some points for speeches that run 30 seconds or more under the allotted time. I’ll also deduct points for signs of a lack of preparation, such as over-reliance on one’s outline or repeated moments of being “lost” or un-focused (including over-use of verbal fillers such as “like,” “uh,” “ya know” etc.), especially if your outline is improperly prepared. “B” work will be largely coherent but lack some of the polish of “A” work, especially in regards to the use of non- verbal communication practices (proxemics, kinesics, etc).

“C”: The difference between “B” and “C” work will be in outlines that are improperly composed and/or formatted and/or have weak supporting evidence and/or evidence not cited or cited improperly. Such work may not contain the minimum number of required sources. Such work may make a good argument but not quite have the reasoning to clearly support some part of that argument. “C” work will display a significant lack of preparation and practice but adhere to minimum basic requirements. And a big difference between “C” and “B” work will be THE PERFORMATIVE ASPECTS of speech assignments. “C” work will be speeches that overly rely on “reading” from outlines, with minimal eye contact, improper inflection, little vocal projection, and few other signs of audience-centeredness.

“D”: This work will be sloppy. Outlines will little resemble proper Preparation Outline formats. A references page will be either omitted or contain fewer sources than required. Speeches will be disorganized and seem un-rehearsed. Such speeches will run more than 30-seconds UNDER time and delivered with little attention to vocal projection, non-verbal cues, and the audience.