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Public Speaking (Summer 2019)/Advocacy Speech
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== Hints on doing well == === Select a topic that allows you to motivate === The key thing is: does your topic allow you to talk about a policy problem, policy solutions, and doable calls to action? Steer clear of social ills. I once had someone who wanted to do an advocacy speech on “being nicer.” This was too vague. Rather, you are looking for broad issues that can be understood in a problem/solution/action format: same sex marriage, increasing funding for NASA, getting charter schools for Washington State, increasing P.E. requirements in Washington State schools. In a similar vein, you might argue increasing funding or support for a specific non-profit group working to end a larger ill. I have had students argue, quite compellingly, for increased support for agencies working to end sex trafficking. We will discuss advocacy topics more in class. === Make sure the argumentative elements work well together === In thinking about your argument, keep two items in mind: stock issues and congruency. So, we will use stock issues for getting at most of the arguments in the advocacy speech. It comes down to: what’s wrong and how can it be fixed (or what’s not wrong and why attempting to fix it is bad)? In an awareness raising situation, this gets to the core elements. Similarly, you need to make sure that the various elements of your argument work well together. We’ll spend a day on this in class, but the issue is: are your solutions truly (and clearly) solving for the problems you identified? Additionally, do the calls to action truly (and clearly) advance the solutions discussed? === Write a stylistically rich argument === In the advocacy speech, you are writing for the ear. You are carefully crafting a speech that will sound good (even stirring) when spoken. This is quite a distance from the impromptu assignment where you delivered a clear, but plainspoken speech. Why do this? Why write in this grander form of oratory? For a couple of reasons. One is that it allows you to meld your language style and argumentative aims. Another reason is that it gives you a space to develop a richer sense of style. Now, you may not find yourself speaking in an occasion that calls for grand oratory, but you will have a familiarity with stylistic devices. A mastery of these devices allows you to instantly improve anything you say. In a business meeting, one or two stylistic devices in the appropriate places will make the presentation that much stronger and more memorable. Of course, there are many times you will find yourself in a position where more stylistically rich language is called for; a wedding, funeral, religious services, dedications, etc. Being able to craft a good line is always a good trait. === Deliver the speech’s style appropriately === Delivery is a huge component of this speech. You are outside in front of an audience of strangers. Delivery is key. Certainly, you will need to adapt to the space and adopt a bigger, more dynamic persona in this speech. At the very least, you will need to significantly bring up your projection level simply to be heard outside. === Beyond simply bigger delivery, though, is the issue of delivering the style well === In essence, you need to write for good speech delivery and then, in turn, deliver the speech in a way that capitalizes on your writing. If you look at the grading rubric for this assignment, you’ll see a number of specific elements like pacing, pausing, emotional tones, and the like. Just as the style needs to mesh with the argument, the delivery needs to mesh with the style. For example, symploce, as a stylistic device, calls for a particular type of delivery cadence. The part of your speech where you are talking about the problems calls for a different type of emotionality than when you are discussing your solutions. Having spent lots of time crafting the language of your advocacy speech, you need to devote considerable attention to how that writing sounds best when delivered. Herein lies the challenge: you have written a speech with style, now you must deliver it in a way that doesn’t sound read or memorized. We’ll talk more about this balancing act in class, but it is one of the most important aspect of the advocacy speech. === Be serious in your efforts to be heard === This speech is a unique opportunity to stand in a public area and demand attention. People will literally stop in their tracks and listen to your argument. The implication here is that it had better be a good argument and you had better be serious about your argument. I’m not saying that there can’t be humor in your speech, but that you should be serious about your topic and your intent. In the past, I have been discouraged when I see students playacting instead of speaking. They get out there and scream and render their garments, but it feels disingenuous. Alternatively, students simply stand there and read their notecards. Both actions miss the point of the assignment, which is to actually engage an audience of strangers with your honest and serious arguments. It is difficult and potentially embarrassing, but if you really commit yourself to being heard as a serious and engaging speaker, you will get so much from this assignment.
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