This unit began with students choosing one of the speeches listed from “The 20 Most Inspiring Speeches in Film” by The Telegraph. From their chosen speech, they had to watch, analyze, and present it to the rest of the class paying close attention to purpose, audience, rhetorical techniques, and overall effectiveness of the speech. Students consulted with the teacher who provided them with feedback before their presentation. While students presented, the classmates wrote down comments in a peer evaluation sheet provided by the teacher.
The Chosen Inspiring Speech segued into the Global Issue Speech (the final assessment of the semester) in which students had to select a topic from the following list of global issues:
Climate change/destruction of nature
Lack of economic opportunity and employment
Large-scale conflict/wars
Inequality (income, discrimination)
Poverty
Religious conflicts
Government accountability and transparency/corruption
Food and water security
Lack of education
Safety/security/wellbeing
If students wanted to select an alternative topic for their global issue, it had to be approved by the teacher. They also had an option of making a presentation through Google Slides, PowerPoint, Prezi, poster, or props, or alternative approved visual for their visual aid to their speech. Once proposals were approved, they began researching their chosen topic. The following week, they were required to submit a reference list of at least four credible sources, with the attached summaries. In their speech, students had to integrate 5-8 rhetorical techniques, the persuasive techniques, and the presentation tips that they’ve learned into their speech. They also had to incorporate evidence from their research into their argument and had to pay close attention to purpose and audience. Furthermore, students were required to cite their speech in APA format. Throughout the weeks, students consulted with the teacher who gave them feedback on their sources, outlines, and first drafts. They revised their speeches based on feedback and rehearsed their speeches well enough until most of the content was memorized. Students submitted their final paper and delivered their speeches along with their visual presentation. The final paper served as a summative assessment, while the actual speech presentation served as their final exam. While each student presented, the classmates wrote down their comments in a peer evaluation sheet provided by the teacher.
For the last week of the semester, the Global Issue final paper and actual speech presentation marks were returned, and the teacher reviewed the performances with each student one-on-one. The unit ended with a series of documentary films on public speaking.
