CASE STU

DY UNIT

C O N S T R U C T I NG E

F F E C T I VE S

P E E C H E S

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Greeting (Optional)

B. Attention getter

C. Credibility statement

D. Thesis statement

E. Preview of main points

A. GREETING1. Hello! My name is Mandar the Dark-Elf and I will be talking to you today about the exciting intricacies of live action roleplaying (LARP).

B. ATTENTION GETTER1. There are five basic ways to

engage an audience

1. Asking a question

2. Making a reference

3. Using a quote

Have you ever tried beating someone up with a foam sword?

I know that many of you probably have a preconceived notion about the type of people who LARP.

“Cowards die many times before their deaths…” –Julius Caesar

THE FIVE TYPES OF ATTENTION-GETTERS

4. Telling a story

5. Making a startling statement

I had spent all night forging my weapons and armor for this moment. As I crouched in the darkness of dusk, I could see the faint outline of a figure in front of me. Judging by his opulent robes and cowled face he was a spell-caster; easy prey for my duel blades. I leapt from the shadows and struck quickly, my right blade slicing downward through the darkness and striking his shoulder. He fumbled for his bag of spell components, cursing loudly in pain and frustration. The half-second delay was all I needed. My second blade raked through the soft fabric of his garment and found his heart. With lips still twisted in incantation of the powerful spell, he fell over dead. His life force spilling out on the stones beneath him. It was a glorious day!

9 out of 10 women prefer a man who still has the sweat of battle on him-even when the battle is with foam swords and duct tape armor.

THE FIVE TYPES OF ATTENTION-GETTERS CONT.

With a partner use all five attention-getters to engage your audience over the following topics:• How to make ice cube tray

popsicles with left over pickle juice.

• How to put the “Oh Yeah!” back into Kool Aide.

• How to cure hiccups.

ACTIVITY:

C. CREDIBILITY STATEMENT

1. Why should your audience listen to you and how are you an expert?

Last summer, I spent 3 weeks at a renaissance festival as a squire to the Green Knight and at the end of my service was knighted by King George.

PARTNER ACTIVITY• Turn to your partner and tell them

one thing that you are an expert on and why you are an expert.

• How will your credibility be important when picking a topic?

1. A thesis statement is a sentence stating the specific idea or opinion you address in your speech, and is located in the introduction of your speech.

I believe that there is nothing more exciting than donning homemade armor and beating the snot out of fellow geeks and nerds on the field of battle with foam and cardboard swords.

D. THESIS STATEMENT

A THESIS STATEMENT MUST:

Be specificBe a complete sentenceBe in your introductionBe proven through your body

paragraphsBe a road map for the speech; in other

words, it tells the audience what to expect is to come.

PRACTICE• Using the topic you told your partner

earlier, write a thesis statement for that topic by following the guidelines we just discussed.

• Have your partner check your thesis based on what a thesis statement must be.

E. PREVIEW STATEMENT1. Last sentence of your introduction

2.Tells the audience what you will be doing in your speech

I will now explain three basic parts to beginning your LARP adventure, which includes how to create your weapon and armor, creating realistic fields of battle, and how to engage in combat safely and without complete chaos.

REVIEW TIME!YOUR OUTLINE INTRODUCTION SHOULD LOOK LIKE THE FOLLOWING:

TitlePurpose: (Why are you giving this talk?)Thesis: (What is your major point or

argument?) I. Introduction

A. Greeting (OPTIONAL)B. Attention getterC. Credibility statementD. Thesis statementE. Preview of main points

WRITE A COMPLETE INTRODUCTION FOR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SPEECH TOPICS:• Bullying in schools

• Teen acne

• Cramming for a test

• Harry Potter

II. BODY PARAGRAPH OUTLINEA. The main point is written in a complete sentence. 1. Supporting material supports the

main pointsa. Details narrow the points

further

BODY PARAGRAPH EXAMPLEII. It is extremely important that have the

necessary materials before you start playing Advanced Dungeons and Dragons.

A. Players must have the AD&D Players Guide

1. It is essential in choosing the appropriate class and race

2. It teaches the player how to use the dice to determine outcomes

a. How else would you know how much damage your fireball does?

WRITE A BODY OUTLINE FOR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS:How to get a lodged slice of

bread out of a toaster safely.

How to tell a joke properly.

How to create an awesome mix tape.

TRANSITIONS: BRIDGING THE GAP

• Transitions provide continuity between sections of your speech

• They are SIGNPOSTS to your audience that you are about to change thoughts or ideas

• In your outline they are written in complete sentences

SAMPLE TRANSITIONS WORDS:Contrast and Comparison:

contrast, by the same token, conversely, instead, likewise,on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather,similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast

Sequence:at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time,for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on,meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier,simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind,

Summarizing:after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event, in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis, in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally

TRANSITION EXAMPLES:• Keeping these points in mind about

scalding yourself with a hot poker, let’s now look at how to shape the hilt of your sword.

• Now that I have explained how to get slapped in the face by a female, let me give you some pointers about how to treat the resulting stinging and swelling.

• Since I have already illustrated what not to do in Oral Communication to get an F, perhaps we should now look at how to kiss-up to your teacher.

III. CONCLUSIONA.Restate your thesisB. Summary

1. Should review the main points in your speech

C. Memorable statement/Call to Action2. Should really drive home your speecha. Consider using material from your attention getter

CONCLUSION EXAMPLEIII.Playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

creates an exciting and addictive melding of comradery, imagination, creativity, and adventure that no other game can offer.A. Rolling charactersB. Battling monstersC. TreasureD. Memorable statement/Call to action- Now lets strap on our magic swords, take up our musty spell books and let the adventure begin!

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Your outline should look like this….

TitleThesis Statement (complete sentence) Purpose Statement (complete sentence)I. Introduction

A. Greeting (Hello, my name is)B. Attention getter (five types)C. Credibility statement (why should we listen to

you?)D. Thesis statement (complete sentence) E. Preview (Today I will be….)

II -IV. Body (topic sentence)A. Main Point 1. Support

a. Detail 2. Support

Transition (complete sentence)V. Conclusion (Thesis restated)

A. Review main pointsB. Memorable statement/Call to action

(complete sentence)