Overview
For this assignment, you will analyze a speech from a public figure.
Step 1: Please make sure to read Chapter 10: Public Communication and Appendix A: Preparing & Presenting Public Speeches.
Step 2: Please select one speech from this online speech bank American Rhetoric Links to an external site.(http://www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall....) OR another source (if you choose to access a speech from another source, please clear it with me first). If you'd like a few specific recommendations for a speech, please e-mail me. One caveat: please do not select a speech from a tv show/movie.
Step 3: Please consider the following specific sections from the text: context & rhetorical situation (Chapter 10, p. 277-278), the audience-speaker relationship (Chapter 10, p. 279-285) and audience adaptation (Appendix A, p. 370, 9th edition).
Step 4: Please provide an analysis of the speech you viewed and discuss what was effective and ineffective (if anything) in the speech. Why are certain elements effective/ineffective? As part of your analysis, please specifically identify & discuss the following 4 elements: the audience(s) (i.e. who is the audience? why did they gather? how did the speaker adapt to the audience?), the occasion (i.e. why is this speech taking place? when is this speech taking place? what's significant about the time/date of delivery?), the speaker (i.e. who is giving the speech? why is this significant in light of the occasion & audience?), and the speech (i.e. what lines stand out to you? to the audience? why? what's the significance of specific lines/words/references?).
Step 5: Please submit assignment as Word processing document. This paper should be 2 pages, proof-read/edited, and double-spaced.
Please contact me with any questions.
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