Daily Speeches
Class begins with a student speech dealing with current event.. These news speeches are assigned ahead of time and each student will likely present six during the course of the school year. When you are assigned to give the news for the day, you should check below for essential criteria.
It is very important not to miss your assigned date as your grade is equivalent to a test.The time frame for your speech topics would be from the previous day's class period to the time you present your speech. For example, if you give a speech on Monday, you have from the previous Friday's class. If you are on a Thursday block and we have not had class since Tuesday, you have a 2 day time frame from which to present information. If you are on a Tuesday and we had class on Monday, then you have that time frame.
News Speeches
News speeches are intended to help follow current events in our community. In that we are part of many different communities, the subject matter will pertain not only to the local area and nationally, but also on an international basis as well. Speeches should be approximately 4-5 minutes in length and must include the following minimum components in order to qualify for an A grade.
- an opening (example given in class)
- at least 3 stories dealing with international news
- at least 3 stories dealing with national news
- at least 3 stories dealing with local news which encompasses Ohio, Cincinnati, and Indian Hill (the local stories should not all revolve around Indian Hill as we are intending to follow actual current news stories in our community
- at least 1 quote from one of the stories
- a closing (example given in class)
- You are encouraged to have additional stories (i.e. results of Reds, Bengals, U.C., Xavier, IH teams) but they don't normally count as one of the required stories unless it is unusual like the Reds in the World Series or the Bengals in the Super Bowl.
Other factors that impact your grade include:
- eye contact ( If you write out your speech and read it, you will receive a "D" )
- Remember to check out pronunciations of difficult names and places ahead of time
- delivery (i.e. voice projection, pace, verbal pauses, pronunciations, transitions, visual aids, etc.)
Hints for success:
learn from other students' speeches
use a notecard(s) with phrases as prompts (DO NOT WRITE OUT YOUR SPEECH IN COMPLETE SENTENCES as it leads to reading)
ask how to pronounce difficult words/names ahead of time
have transition between your stories
have more than the minimum number of stories
prepare and practice as much as possible