Narrative Speech

Due Jan 25, 2017 by 5:30pm
Points 75

This assignment is worth 75 points.

This is your first graded speech assignment. In this speech, you will give a 2 to 4 minute narrative speech. You can tell a story about a person or experience that had a significant influence on your life. This should be a true story about your self.

Even though this is the first speech, it will probably be the easiest because research is not required, and the speaking time is short. Since you are talking about something familiar and important confidence, enthusiasm and sincerity will come through in your delivery even if you do feel some speech anxiety.

This assignment provides an opportunity for class members to get to know each other. The more you know your audience the more comfortable you will feel speaking to them. This assignment helps create rapport amongst your classmates.

Use the following guideline when preparing your speech.

I Introduction

A. Greeting, say hello, introduce yourself, let the audience know you are about to begin.

B. Attention Getter - ask a rhetorical question, use visualization, use suspense, do something physical, show a visual aid, or tell a joke (that leads into your topic).

C. Relate your topic to your audience - give them a reason to be interested, to want to listen attentively to your speech.

D. State your thesis - tell the audience the purpose of this speech, the topic. be clear, and concise with the wording.

E. Preview your main points. verbally list the main points or main ideas of your speech (not the sub points and sub-sub points that is the body)

II Body

Divide your story into 3 to 5 main parts. Label those parts and use those labels in the preview, for sign posting and in the review of your speech. For example, if you are going to do your speech about a person who had a significant impact on your life your main points might include

A. How you know the person, how you met, your relationship to that person.

B. What they did or do that inspires you or influences you in someway.

C. What affect they have had on your attitudes and actions.

III Conclusion

A. Tip off - let the audience know that your speech will be ending soon. You can change the pace and tone of your voice, or you can say "before I conclude let me summarize my main points" or "now that I have told you about (then go on to the next step)

B. Summarize - restate your main points

C. Clincher - tell the audience something important they should remember from your speech. Explain the moral or the lesson learned from the experience or person in your story. Be brief, don't be redundant.

If you choose to speak about an event or experience you will modify the above outline example to make it appropriate for your story. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or if you want guidance on choosing your main points.

Your speech should be descriptive and interesting. But it should also be concise. Keep it with in the time limit. Practice and rehearse aloud before you give this speech in class. Time it. Relax, have fun, don't stress.