2 short English assignments, grade 12. Only approx. 2 pages each. Due by Dec. 4, 11:59pm eastern.

Speech Delivery Analysis Assignment

Analyze the delivery of the following presentations. Are they or are they not effective? What are the strong and/or weak points? Pay attention to appropriateness, body language (eye contact, gesturing, movement), clarity of speech, and vocal strategies (intonation, volume, cadence and rhythm). What feedback would you give them?

Write about a half page for each presentation, modelled after the examples for effective speech particulars given below.

1) Marketing Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YivQYeI0vys&feature=player_embedded

2) Obama: "Just Words?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6NS9unm-OQ&feature=player_embedded

3) Vicky: Being a Good Server

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w0M_2jz_lA&feature=player_embedded

4) Human Trafficking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20DkgguBxY4&feature=player_embedded

In the analysis, use these guidelines as measures for speech clarity, body language, and voice strategies:

1) Vocal Strategies

A speech is poetry: cadence, rhythm, imagery, sweep! A speech reminds us that words, like children, have the power to make dance the dullest beanbag of a heart. ~Peggy Noonan

Vocal strategies refer to the ways you can use your voice to enhance the effectiveness of your presentation. They include cadence and rhythm, volume and inflection. The effective use of these strategies helps your audience connect with you, increases the rate of comprehension, and generally makes your speech more enjoyable and interesting to listen to.

Cadence and Rhythm

Cadence and rhythm are the meter, the beat, the pulse of speech – the rhythmic flow of words. Having good rhythm, and using rhythm changes to emphasize key points, is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal in the creation of an effective speech. To illustrate, watch the following video, which shows a public speaking expert analyzing the speaking style of one of the world's best speakers – Barack Obama.

As speaking guru Patti Wood points out, one of the things that makes Obama's speeches so captivating

is his play with changing rhythm, which includes the use of pauses. He starts slow, he builds to a slightly faster delivery, builds excitement, and then he lets the audience have a moment to absorb what he gave them. He speaks on a beat (and notice that he gestures on the beat aswell! Slow Down!

One common mistake many speakers make is to speak too quickly, mostly due due nervousness, or because they are excited about the subject matter. The unfortunate result is that the audience has to work too hard to keep up, and will eventually stop listening. (But, of course, don't speak tooooo slooowly, either.) Varying the speed of your delivery within easily comprehensible boundaries adds to the effectiveness of your speech.

Volume Control

Scale your volume to the room and audience. Make sure the people at the back of the room can hear you clearly. There is nothing wrong with being straight up and asking your audience if they can hear you – you are there speaking for them, after all, and right off you will give the impression that you care about their experience.

One way of using volume to get the attention of your audience is to lower you voice. A drop in volume sends a signal to the mind's of your audience "Listen, this is important" This technique is very effective, especially when you are speaking with exitement, and suddenly pause, lower your voice and say "..."

Inflection

Another very important vocal strategy is inflection (also known as voice modulation or intonation) – the change in the pitch or tone of the voice. Varying your tone throughout the speech – raising the pitch of your voice to indicate excitement, or lowering it express sadness or share a personal insight – will help keep your audience awake and alert.

2) Clarity of Speech

Your speech may be brilliantly written, and you may have the best PowerPoint presentation the world has ever seen, but if your audience can't understand what you are saying, it's all for naught. Clarity of speech here refers to the physical enunciation of words. It can sometimes be taken to mean the logical progression of ideas within a text (which we will be discussing in the planning section.)

So, how can you improve the clarity of your speech? To answer this question, let’s first look at some common issues with English enunciation.

Blending words together

This is a part of normal conversation, so much so that native speakers aren’t even aware they are doing it. I was an ESL teacher for several years, and I sometimes had students ask me what words like "dunno" or "wanna" meant ("don’t know" and "want to," respectively.) I had to explain that in everyday conversation, these pronunciations are perfectly acceptable and natural, but that in more formal contexts, properly enunciating the words is the best policy. Other common blends to avoid during a formal speech: coulda/woulda/shoulda (could have/would have/should have), probly (probably), cancha (can’t you). The list goes on.

The problem is, if you are used to speaking this way, you may not even realize it, so how can you correct it? The first step is to become aware of how you sound. With the ubiquity of recording devices

these days, one recommendation is to record yourself during regular conversations in order to hear your enunciation habits. Make a list of your problem phrases, and practice saying them correctly. Sometimes the solution is just a matter of slowing down.

Swallowing Plosives

Swallowing what? Plosives! Sounds like /d/, /t/, /b/, /p/, /k/, and /g/. Sounds that, properly enunciated, are formed by the air being completely blocked in the mouth and then suddenly released. In English all of these sounds can be found at the beginning, middle, or end of a word. Plosives found at the beginning of the word don't usually pose a pronunciation problem, but those in the middle or at the end are often "swallowed" or dropped.

So how can you improve? As above, I'd suggest recording and listening to yourself first to become aware of how clearly you speak. Tongue twisters are great for practicing articulation of targeted sounds, and they are fun.

Practice saying the following lines from Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" to work on consonants:

To sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, in a pestilential prison with a lifelong lock, awaiting the sensation of a short, sharp shock, from a cheap and chippy chopper on a big, black block.

Another (admittedly geeky) suggestion is to try to directly mimic and repeat after/over a speaker with good enunciation (like Barack Obama, or any CBC broadcaster.) It's especially fun if you choose someone with a different accent. My personal favourite is to copy over British correspondents.

There is definitely a range of acceptable articulation, even among broadcasters, so don't feel like you need to speak in a way that makes you sound like someone else – be you, but be clear! When you do your presentation, this will be one of the factors that goes into your mark, so keep it in mind, and practice your enunciation.

3) Body Language

A) Stance Before you even open your mouth to utter your first phrase, how you hold presence in the room is speaking volumes to your audience. Your stance can tell your audience if you are scared, nervous, confident, or uncomfortable. What do you want to portray? Probably that you are comfortable and confident in your knowledge and purpose (even if you're not), so how can you convey that?

A balanced stance with the weight equally distributed on both feet, and leaning very slightly onto the toes, shows the audience that you are engaged with them, and that you are yourself balanced and present. If you slump to one side, leaning into one foot and popping the opposite hip out, it can unwittingly convey that you don't really care about where you are.

Upright posture conveys confidence. At the best of times, most of us could use a little postural adjustment (written as I straighten my spine). Try this exercise: Stand tall, with your feet pointing directly ahead and not quite shoulder–width apart. Your arms should fall relaxed to your side. As you breathe in, feel your lungs fill and your chest rise, carrying with it your shoulders. Keep this lift in the shoulders, and gently roll the shoulders back (not with too much force!) On your exhale, keep this shoulder position while you release any tension. Breathe slowly and deeply, and pay attention to any tension you feel, and try to release it. Tuck your tailbone slightly towards the floor, and find a head

position that feels balanced directly over the neck. Do this in front of a mirror if you like. You are standing naturally, even though it may not be what you are used to. Remind yourself now and again in your everyday life to find this neutral stance, and eventually it may become more automatic.

B) Movement Some movement during your presentation (if the venue allows – obviously at a press conference one is generally locked behind a podium) can lend some visual interest, if done correctly. Moving randomly around, pacing back and forth, or swaying, can distract your audience and take away from your message. So what is effective movement?

Move slowly, and punctuate that movement with stillness. For example, you can walk slowly from one side of the stage to the other once or twice during a presentation, to make the whole audience feel included. You can also use the depth of the stage effectively, walking closer to the audience to emphasize a point or sharing personal experience, and backing up to the screen or board when you are presenting technical information.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Keep it simple – don't move too much. Adding interest can be as simple as turning your body slightly to face a bit to the left or right.

• Always face your audience, even while at the board or gesturing to the screen, keep your body turned out

• Be aware of your audience's need for space. Don't stand too far back so as to distance yourself, but don't stand too close so as to make your audience uncomfortable.

• Don't move just because you think you need to move. Think about when, where and how to move as part of your presentation, in order to bolster its effectiveness.

C) Hand Gestures: The hands are powerful tools! They can punctuate, illustrate, and gesture on a beat to show the importance of your profound statements. Using your hands can vastly improve the effectiveness of your speech. So, this is another good reason not to tie them up with cue cards, or hide them in your pockets, or otherwise occupy them with nervous habits like twirling your hair (don't do that!)

Use your shoulders. In a larger room, it is more effective to initiate the gesture from the shoulder, as it makes the gesture bigger, and more visible to your audience. Using more of your body also helps to make you look more animated and energetic.

Gesture on key points. Gesture to punctuate key points. Don't feel the need to gesture continuously, for this can be distracting, and doesn't help you or your audience highlight key information. We've all seen busy–hand talkers, whose hands lure you into a trance and ensure you don't remember a word they said.

D) Facial Expressions/Eye Contact: There are tons and tons of web sites out there about presenting, offering tips and advice. There are also lots of YouTube videos and examples of both good and bad speakers. I encourage you to explore a bit, especially in the areas that you feel you could improve. Below is an article by a very well known public speaking coach and motivational speaker. Her web site, pattiwood.net, has many links to great articles and examples of effective speaking.