The LCHS Opinion/Conviction Speech

YOUR OPINION & CONVICTION SPEECH IN SPEECH I

Originally Posted September 24, 2007 this term. Posting date changed to place the article higher on the blog for student's convenience.

Choose a topic about which you have a strong opinion. Remember, topics are first-come, first-served. Only one speech per topic, per class.

It is our goal in this speech to teach you how to support an opinion and make an argument with support. Don't be afraid of this, though. You already do this all the time. Everytime you reach a conclusion about something, your personal experiences or the experiences of others lead you to your conclusion.

You will share your opininion for the rest of your life. We want to make sure that our graduates know how to share valid opinions in public. Remember, an opinion by itself without support may let others see you as uneducated. Years from now when you're on a church council, a scout leader, a member of the PTA, local government or you're just visiting with family, what we learn here will serve you. THIS IS EASIER THAN MANY OF YOU WILL WANT TO MAKE IT. RELAX, YOU CAN DO THIS!

This IS NOT a researched speech. It is a speech that you will support with your own experiences, the experiences of friends, of family members or others. You will need three "reasons" why your opinion is valid. Then you will need to support your reasons with stories or personal experiences.

ON-LINE VERSIONS OF THINGS WE LEARNED IN CLASS

Don't understand the Introduction, Conclusion or How to Build a Main Point? Click here for more information.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for this 3-6 minute Opinion Speech you need to have the following pieces complete that are listed as REQUIRED. Some of these links are to help you find information quickly on our blog to help you and are not required.

TOPIC SELECTION

(1) CLICK HERE to send an E-Mail to Mr. M. with your topic if it is not in the book. It must be put in the book and compared to other topics there. Remember, first come, first served. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: Your topic must be in the classroom book and must be approved by the instructor.

PRE-SPEAKING BLOCK

(2) CLICK HERE for a "review" on how to write a Pre-Speaking Block with a General Purpose and a Specific Purpose (known as the Pre-Speaking Block). REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: A Pre-Speaking Block done before you begini writing your speech. This helps you make good speech writing choices.

(3) CLICK HERE for a "review" on how to write an Audience Analysis Statements as we taught in the last speech. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: An Audience Analysis Statement of an audience that is made up of students, teachers, parents, administrators, school board members and citizens.

INTRODUCTION

(4) CLICK HERE for a "review" of the five goals one should achieve in writing a good introduction. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: A manuscripted Introduction.

(5) CLICK HERE for a "review" of the types of Attention Getters (with examples) that we learned in class during the Peer Biography Speech. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: Three Attention Getters that are at least four sentences long each.

(6) CLICK HERE for a "review" on how to write a thesis statement as was taught in class. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: A thesis statement made with a salutation, thesis base and strong preview.

(7) CLICK HERE for a "review" of how to write a relevance statement. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: A relevance statement that includes three different reasons for the audience to listen. This is a minimum. More is fine.

(8) CLICK HERE for a template showing how to complete the three required bulletin boards. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: A completed bulletin board for each of your main points.

(9) CLICK HERE for the required manuscripted Introduction Template. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: A one-sheet manuscripted introduction.

BODY

(10) CLICK HERE for the required T-Chart/Template for MP I of your Opinion Speech. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: An important reason (T-Chart) for the "more important argument that you will offer."

(11) CLICK HERE for the required T-Chart/Template for MP II of your Opinion Speech. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: A more important reason (T-Chart) for the "more important argument that you will offer."

(12) CLICK HERE for the required T-Chart/Templage for MP III of your Opinion Speech. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: The most important reason (T-Chart) for the "most important argument that you will offer."

(13) CLICK HERE for another copy of the rubic given to you in class. You need this signed by a parent/adult showing that you discussed or delivered this speech for an adult.

(14) CLICK HERE for the required manuscripted Conclusion Template. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: A manuscripted conclusion of the speech.

(15) CLICK HERE for a "review" of the things any good speaker/writer should accomplish in a good conclusion as we learned in class.

(16) CLICK HERE for a "review" of the types of clichers with examples that one might use for a speech. These were recently taught in class. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: A strong clincher that effectively leaves the audience with a final thought or a series of final thoughts.

(17) CLICK HERE for examples of the types of evidence and support that one should us to support his/her opinions with evidence. The opinion speeches should be supported by evidence. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: Two pieces of support at minimum for each of the Main Points in the speech.

GENERAL

(18) CLICK HERE for an overview of what each TEMPLATE should contain. REQUIRED FOR THIS SPEECH: Five template styled pages to carry to the podium with you that encourages "extemporaneous speaking."

ELECTRONIC COPIES OF SPEECH OPINION RUBRICS
TO BE USE IN SELF, PARENT AND INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION

Opinion Speech Self-Evaluation.doc

Opinion Speech Teacher Evaluation page 1.doc

Opinion Evaluation Speech Teacher Evaluation page 2.doc