Course Profile   Presentation and Speaking Skills, Grade 11, Open, Catholic and Public

 

Unit 1:  Speaking for Yourself

Time:  25 hours

 

Activity 1.1 | Activity 1.2 | Activity 1.3 | Activity 1.4 | Activity 1.5 | Activity 1.6

Unit Description

In keeping with the nature of this course, the introductory unit focuses on the importance and value of speaking effectively. Students are introduced to the role speech plays in shaping their own lives and in transforming the world in which they live. Through example and discussion, students recognize that speaking and presenting are skills with specific language needs that are targeted for both a specific purpose and audience. The teacher provides opportunities throughout the unit for students to rehearse or practise their speaking/ presenting skills. Students demonstrate their understanding through personal written responses, reflective discussions, quizzes, dramatic presentations, and the creation and critique of an individual speech. The power of speech to transform personal lives is taught in relation to Christ’s teaching of compassion and understanding.

Unit Synopsis Chart

For more information on the expectations and assessment see the Unit Overview Chart in the Course Overview.

Activity 1.1

Students are to be Seen and Heard

180 minutes

Activity 1.2

Words Can Move Mountains

300 minutes

Activity 1.3

No Person is an Island

120 minutes

Activity 1.4

Actions Speak Louder than Words

300 minutes

Activity 1.5

What Effective Speakers Do

120 minutes

Activity 1.6

Putting It All Together

480 minutes

 

Activity 1.1:  Students are to be Seen and Heard

Time:  80 minutes

Description

This initial activity introduces students to the advantages of being able to express oneself confidently in a variety of social situations. In addition, students are provided with an introduction to and overview of the course. Students appreciate that speaking in public is a skill with a specific set of attributes/qualities and terms with which they must become familiar. The initial activities in the course are designed to have students become familiar with the terminology that the teacher will refer to throughout the course. Ice breaker and survey tasks are included in this activity in order to establish a welcoming and comfortable environment for the students. In doing this, students can reflect on their own talents and how their skills can be developed so as to bring about a positive sense of self and improved relationships with others.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

PPV.01 - identify and analyse the characteristics of effective presentations;

PP1.01 - identify a range of presentation forms;

PP1.02 - identify the presentation form appropriate for a specific purpose and audience.

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations

CGE1d - develops attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teaching and acts to promote social responsibility, human solidarity, and the common good;

CGE1g - understands that one’s purpose or call in life comes from God and strives to discern and live out this call throughout life’s journey;

CGE2b - reads, understands, and uses written materials effectively;

CGE4g - examines and reflects on one’s personal values, abilities, and aspirations influencing life’s choice and opportunities;

CGE5b - thinks critically about the meaning and purpose of work;

CGE7g - respects and understands the history, cultural heritage, and pluralism of today’s contemporary society.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Familiarity with dictionary research skills and note taking.

·         Familiarity with the components of Cooperative Group Learning e.g., Jigsaw Method.

Planning Notes

·         The teacher develops an opening day course outline in conjunction with their Department. The outline should include a course description, overview of the units to be studied, and an evaluation scheme for the course. In addition, the teacher should make provisions for parents/guardians to indicate they have read the course outline and are familiar with what their son/daughter is studying and how students are to be evaluated.

·         The teacher may wish to gather news articles, quotations from business and academic leaders indicating the importance of effective communication skills in modern society from print media or the world wide web.

·         Students should have access to a dictionary during the process and might be provided with a copy of a “Glossary of Terms” associated with communication (Appendix 1.B – Glossary of Terms Associated with Communication) with only the terms present.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.1.1 Student Activity: Students review the opening day course outline with the teacher indicating the Units of Study, Evaluation Breakdown, and Course Expectations. Students become familiar with the purpose and expectations of the course.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher presents students with the opening day course outline and indicates what units students will study during the course of the semester and indicate how students are evaluated.

1.1.2 Student Activity: Students engage in a discussion which focuses on the importance of being able to express oneself well. Students may work in groups to develop a list of the advantages of speaking well and various occupations/social situations where communicating effectively is an advantage. One representative from each group presents their group’s findings to the class. Students are then provided with a handout detailing the benefits of communicating effectively (Appendix 1.A – Effective Oral Communication: A Recipe for Personal Success). Students develop a sense of both the relevance and structure of the course, as the handout is organized according to the units in the course profile.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher begins with a series of traditional icebreaker activities. These may include a questionnaire for students regarding themselves and their attitudes to public speaking or a group activity in which students are encouraged to meet their peers prior to the introduction of formal course material. Having completed these activities, the teacher provides students with chart paper and divides the class into small groups. On the overhead or board, the teacher provides students with an appropriate title e.g., “The Benefits of Speaking Effectively” with a series of subheadings e.g., “Careers,” Classroom”, “Community.” As students write their responses on the chart paper, the teacher circulates to answer any questions students may have and to keep students on task. Once an appropriate amount of time has elapsed, the teacher calls upon one group representative to present their findings to the class as a whole. This serves as an icebreaker for the students elected to speak, as they have an opportunity to present to the class without a formal evaluation. The teacher provides opportunities throughout the course for students to rehearse or practise their speaking and presenting skills. The teacher then provides students with a handout detailing the benefits of communicating effectively (Appendix 1.A – Effective Oral Communication – A Recipe for Personal Success). The teacher may choose to replace the handout with a series of quotations, news articles, or a film clip emphasizing the benefits of speaking effectively.

1.1.3 Student Activity: Students participate in a group activity in which they provided with a set of terms associated with speaking and presenting. Each group is given specific terms to define and explain. Students are asked in their “expert groups” to come up with a formal definition of these terms and report their findings to their classmates. Students should have the opportunity to review terms they were introduced to in the Grade 9/10 Curriculum e.g., Audience, Purpose, Thesis, and Topic. After the presentations, students copy down the teacher’s definition for these terms. (Please note: the teacher should attempt to incorporate student suggestions within these definitions.)

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher assigns students to groups. The teacher follows up this activity with a review of these terms and explains that this Glossary of Terms is referred to and developed throughout the course. For example, a student must first be able to recognize what an audience means before they can actually adapt their presentation style for a specific audience.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Task

Tool

Category

Learning Skill

Group discussion

Teacher observation, student self-assessment

Communication

Application

Team Work

Quiz on terms

Marking scheme

Knowledge

Works independently

Accommodations

·         In this activity, the teacher may choose to have the testing done orally for students who have difficulty expressing their ideas in writing or have students work in pairs on the quiz.

·         Students who have difficulty copying notes may have a copy of the handouts provided for them by the teacher.

·         Pair students for quiz on terms.

·         Use oral responses and/or open book testing to assist students with test anxiety.

Resources

Burns, J.H. Speak for Yourself: An Introduction to Public Speaking, 4th ed. Diablo Valley College; 1997.
ISBN 0-07-009632-5

Hasling, J. The Audience, The Message and The Speaker, 6th ed. McGraw Hill; ISBN 07-027027-9

Public Speaking Glossary – www.public-speaking.org/public-speaking-glossarya-e.artide.html

Article and activities from the Advanced Public Speaking Institute

Sands, Helen. Building Skills and Confidence, 4th ed. McGraw Hill, 2000. ISBN 0-07-240066-8

 

Activity 1.2:  Words Can Move Mountains

Time:  300 minutes

Description

Students are introduced to a series of famous inspirational speeches. Students are provided with the opportunity to read these speeches aloud, examine the speeches for rhetorical devices and paraphrase the speeches. Students are asked to choose one of these speeches and write a personal response explaining the success of the speech and why it had such a powerful impact upon its audience. Students become aware of how language can be used to express ideas/views which can contribute positively or negatively to the common good.

Strands & Learning Expectations

PPV.01 - identify and analyse the characteristics of effective presentations;

PPV.02 - plan presentations for specific purposes and audiences;

PP1.03 - identify elements of style and organization in selected speeches by famous orators;

PP1.04 - analyse the use of rhetorical and stylistic devices in oral presentations;

MP1.03 - use appropriate techniques in oral presentations.

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations

CGE1d - develops attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teaching and acts to promote social responsibility, human solidarity, and the common good;

CGE1g - understands that one’s purpose or call in life comes from God and strives to discern and live out this call throughout life’s journey;

CGE2a - listens actively and critically to understand and learn in light of Gospel values;

CGE3b - creates, adapts, and evaluates new ideas in light of the common good;

CGE7e - witnesses Catholic social teaching by promoting equality, democracy, and solidarity for a just, peaceful, and compassionate society;

CGE7g - respects and understands the history, cultural heritage, and pluralism of today’s contemporary society.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Familiarity with response journals and the stages of the writing process including brainstorming, editing, revising and publishing.

·         Familiarity with a variety of graphic organizers (e.g., web, clusters). These organizers may be used in recording brainstorming information.

Planning Notes

·         The teacher gathers several historical and contemporary quality speeches in audio or text form.

·         If possible, students should have access to printed copies of the speeches they hear.

·         As students are expected to write a response, it would be advantageous for teachers to provide a sample of a response on overhead or in print form.

·         The teacher reviews the stages of the writing process and afford students the opportunity to work on their response in class. Teacher and peer conferences are held to assist in the editing process.

·         The teacher makes students aware of the criteria to be utilized in the evaluation rubric for this assignment. At the discretion of the teacher, students may be involved in the creation of said rubric.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.2.1 Student Activity: Students read a series of famous inspirational speeches both silently and aloud. Students examine the speeches for the use of effective rhetorical devices such as repetition, rhetorical questions, or emotional appeal. The speeches may vary from Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream to Shylock’s speeches in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher provides students with hard copies of a series of speeches or excerpts from effective speeches. At this point, the teacher introduces the notion of rhetorical devices and provides students with a handout defining the various rhetorical devices, or the teacher may have students use a literary/conventional dictionary to research these terms. The teacher then asks students to identify the presence of rhetorical devices within the speeches. The teacher refers to terms introduced earlier (e.g., purpose and audience) and explains how an awareness of these specific rhetorical devices will affect their own decisions when they present.

1.2.2 Student Activity: Students listen to a selection of speeches. Students are asked to focus on the delivery of the speech to identify specific characteristics (e.g., tone, inflection, pauses, pacing). Students examine the speeches in either an oral or written form and analyse why speakers chose to use a characteristic e.g., a pause at a specific point in their speech. Students see how a speaker’s choices regarding then method of delivery can help or hinder the message conveyed to their audience. Students appreciate that effective speeches are a combination of an organized written structure and a powerful delivery. The teacher may assign students excerpts from speeches they have never heard performed before and ask them to rehearse, memorize, and deliver these speeches to their peers.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher introduces terminology associated with appropriate techniques for delivering a speech (e.g., dramatic pauses, variation of volume, pitch, and inflection). Students listen to a series of powerful speeches and identify specific oral techniques. Once students are able to confidently recognize these techniques, the teacher has them assess whether the technique utilized, enhanced or detracted from a specific speaker’s message, e.g., the negative impact of a monotone voice. The teacher provides students with excerpts from speeches they are unfamiliar with and have not heard in class. The teacher has students rehearse, memorize (if appropriate and feasible), and present the speech to their peers. The teacher may mark the oral presentation in an informal fashion (e.g., simple task completion) or formally, based upon the student’s ability to incorporate appropriate oral techniques in their presentation.

1.2.3 Student Activity: Students engage in a reflective discussion as to why specific speakers/speeches have the power to transform the way other people feel or think. Students use personal resources, including favourite books, poems, and lyrics, to determine who they feel speaks for their generation e.g., a celebrity or musician. Who is the Churchill, Kennedy, Martin Luther King of their generation? What values are they espousing? Do these values conflict with Catholic teaching? Students are asked to write a personal response to the speech they have chosen. In this response, students indicate the message of the speech, what specific aspects of the speech inspired them, and what the speech caused them to reflect upon in their own lives. Prior to writing their response, students review the stages of the writing process taught in their Grade 9/10 curriculum, including prewriting, brainstorming, the creation of an initial draft, conferencing, editing, revising, and publishing their work. Students present their polished personal response in either a written or oral form. At the discretion of the teacher, students may be required to do both. Students may engage in a “Read Around Scenario” where they present their response to three other students in a small group setting. Students, in groups, are asked to express what they enjoyed about the content of the personal response and the manner in which it was delivered. Group members should select the personal response they enjoyed the most and nominate it to be shared with the entire class. In this fashion, students have the opportunity to present in a non-threatening environment, receive feedback, and see their work valued by their peers.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher leads a discussion as to why certain speakers are able to transform how we feel or think. The notion that a successful artist/writer/speaker is able to articulate or express what we feel at times or what we hold dear may be an area to explore. In addition, the teacher emphasizes the logical connection between the power of the written word and the need to ensure that speakers use appropriate oral techniques in order to elicit the desired response from an audience. Students select a person who speaks for their generation. The teacher needs to perform a number of tasks prior to having students write a personal response. Initially, the teacher models a personal response by selecting a writer who speaks for the teacher’s generation and provide students with a sample of the artist’s work (e.g., John Lennon’s Imagine, Jewel, Viktor Frank’s Man’s Search for Meaning). The teacher specifies what is expected from a personal response e.g., an explanation of who the artist is, what they are trying to communicate in their work, why they are successful in communicating their message (effective use of rhetorical devices) and how their work speaks to the student (similar life experiences, thoughts, and sentiments).

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Task

Tool

Category

Learning Skill

Personal response

Checklist or rubric (peer or teacher) both formative and summative

Knowledge

Communication

Organization

Oral participation

Anecdotal

Communication

Initiative

Accommodations

·         Prior to collecting the written response, the teacher should review the student’s IEP.

·         The submitted Personal Response may be a collaborative effort in which two students work together. A teacher may have a strong writer paired with a student who experiences difficulty with writing or two students with similar abilities may present an oral response using point form or webbing as their written submission.

·         Some students may choose to submit their personal response on cassette or orally to the teacher on an individual basis. Students could also present /submit their response in a small group.

·         In order to build the confidence of certain students, a teacher may choose to evaluate the initial assignment according to Content/Ideas rather than Style/Mechanics. Therefore, spelling and other concerns with grammar would not be emphasized in the evaluation process.

Resources

Famous Speeches – www.enteract.com/~smeagol/speeches.htm

Gifts of Speech – Famous speeches from around the world – www.gos.sbc.edu/

The History Place – The Great Speeches Collection – www.historyplace.com/speeches/previous.htm

Vancil, D.L. Rhetoric and Argumentation. McGraw Hill, 1999. ISBN 0-07-232469-4

 

Activity 1.3:  No Person is an Island

Time:  120 minutes

Description

Students are reintroduced to the concept of cooperative group learning and the need to work constructively with their peers. The nature of this course requires that students be able to work cooperatively with their peers in group situations in order to complete activities and understand the notion of group dynamics (e.g., how roles and responsibilities should be divided and shared amongst group members). The decisions students arrive at and their rationale for these decisions assist them not only in this course but when they are working with groups in other disciplines. Students develop a play list for a student radio station (Appendix 1.C) or establishing the rules for a group of students stranded on an island. Students learn the art of compromise, develop effective listening skills, recognize the roles individuals play within a group structure, demonstrate an awareness of the behaviour that hinders group progress, and understand how a group must function to develop a way to attack a problem while meeting a prescribed deadline. Through this activity, students learn coping strategies that hopefully will eliminate or reduce the risk of difficulties with future activities. While participating in meaningful communication, students demonstrate Christian leadership, respect, and acceptance of all individuals.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

PPV.02 - plan presentations for specific purposes and audiences;

RP1.01 - use techniques of effective listening to understand ideas and information in presentations.

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations

CGE1d - develops attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teaching and acts to promote social responsibility, human solidarity, and the common good;

CGE3c - thinks reflectively and creatively to evaluate situations and solve problems;

CGE4a - demonstrates a confident and positive sense of self and respect for the dignity and welfare of others;

CGE4b - demonstrates flexibility and adaptability;

CGE4c - takes initiative and demonstrates Christian leadership;

CGE4f - applies effective communication, decision-making, problem-solving, time, and resource management skills;

CGE5a - works effectively as an interdependent team member;

CGE5f - exercises Christian leadership in the achievement of individual and group goals.

Planning Notes

·         The teacher arranges to have heterogeneous groupings within the class.

·         Groups are then presented with a scenario such as that found in Appendix 1.C. If the teacher wishes, another scenario might be created or prepared for the activity. Students are asked to present and defend their selections to their classmates.

·         The teacher arranges to have an overhead or chart paper to record student responses in groups.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.3.1 Student Activity: Students are arranged into prescribed groups by the teacher. Students are assigned a specific scenario such as in Appendix 1.C – Radio Station Play List Activity and begin to resolve the problem presented using chart paper or overheads. Upon completion of the task, students report their decisions to the class in an oral presentation. Students must be prepared to defend their choices by providing a logical rationale.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher presents students with the problem to be solved and the deadline for completing said task. As students work in their assigned groups, the teacher circulates and observes group dynamics. Having completed the activity, the teacher facilitates a class discussion of the various solutions arrived at by the groups.

1.3.2 Student Activity: Students participate in a class discussion about the group experience. Once the teacher has listed these concerns, students generate and submit a list of rules or commandments for class group work to the teacher.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher records the concerns/difficulties raised by students regarding their group work. It is vital that the teacher steer the content of the discussion away from individual personalities and towards the behaviour being exhibited in general e.g., “Some people do not contribute” as opposed to naming a specific student. Once the issues are listed, students are required to submit solutions to avoid these concerns. As a number of issues may be raised, the teacher should rank perhaps the top five concerns and have students submit their solutions. The teacher creates a list of rules for group work incorporating some of the suggestions provided in student submissions. The teacher posts these rules in a prominent place in the classroom.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Task

Tool

Category

Learning Skill

Group discussion

Anecdotal (teacher, self-, and peer assessment)

Communication

Teamwork

Rules for group work

Marking scheme

Thinking, Application

Work habits

Accommodations

·         The teacher may choose to establish the groups in a heterogeneous fashion, in order to reflect the various writing abilities within the class. As a result, any written submission in this activity would receive a group mark.

Resources

Allyn and Bacon. Groups in Process: An Introduction to Small Group Communication, 5th ed. 1995.
ISBN 0-205-16887-6

Communication in Small Groups: Principles and Practices, 6th ed. Longman Books, 2000.
ISBN 0-321-03648-4

Cooperative Learning Centre – www.clcrc.com

Language in the Workplace: Spoken Communication in the Workplace – www.vuw.ac.nz/lals/lwp/

Samovar, L.A. Oral Communication: Speaking Across Cultures, 7th ed. San Diego State University, 1998. ISBN-697-299-09-0

Southworth W.D. and M.J. Haun. The Art of Successful Meetings. University of Houston, 1997.
ISBN 0-07-059809-6

 

Activity 1.4:  Actions Speak Louder than Words

Time:  300 minutes

Description

Students focus on the impact that a speaker’s body language has on an audience. In addition, students recognize that it is vital to be able to read body language in social situations and be aware of their own body language. The importance of “audience” is conveyed to students through an examination of gestures, signs, and symbols in various cultures. Students are aware and respectful of the uniqueness of each person and accept them as creations of God with values and needs.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

PP1.07 - describe conventions of oral and non- verbal communication in various cultures and how they affect the delivery of oral presentations (e.g., find and discuss information about how different cultures view the use of eye contact and body language during presentations);

PP2.05 - select and use effective rehearsal strategies to practise and polish a presentation (e.g., try out a speech on peers or family members; rehearse a panel discussion or a group presentation to refine sequencing and transitions; set up and practise using audio-visual equipment, visual aids, and cue cards in the presentation venue).

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations

CGE1d - develops attitudes and values founded on Catholic social teaching and acts to promote social responsibility, human solidarity, and the common good;

CGE2a - listens actively and critically to understand and learn in light of gospel values;

CGE3c - thinks reflectively and creatively to evaluate situations and solve problems;

CGE4a - demonstrates a confident and positive sense of self and respect for the dignity and welfare of others;

CGE4b - demonstrates flexibility and adaptability;

CGE4f - applies effective communication, decision-making, problem solving, time, and resource management skills;

CGE5a - works effectively as an interdependent team member;

CGE5e - respects the rights, responsibilities, and contributions of self and others;

CGE5f - exercises Christian leadership in the achievement of individual and group goals;

CGE7f - respects and affirms the diversity and interdependence of the world’s peoples and cultures;

CGE7g - respects and understands the history, cultural heritage, and pluralism of today’s contemporary society.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Familiarity with the basic elements of non-verbal communication and specific dramatic terms such as tableau.

Planning Notes

·         The teacher has introduced the importance of body language when discussing the qualities of an effective speaker in the previous activity. The teacher introduces drama activities designed to have students reflect upon the ability of their body to convey a message.

·         The teacher is familiar with the dramatic concept of tableau.

·         The teacher collects articles from print media and the World Wide Web detailing/explaining the importance of body language and non-verbal communication.

·         The teacher provides students with articles and text based resources detailing the importance of body language, cross-cultural gestures/gesticulations, and the importance of these signals in social situations.

·         The teacher creates a list of distracting, annoying, or negative gestures or gesticulations that have a negative impact on an audience.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.4.1 Student Activity: Students are provided with articles detailing the importance of body language. In addition, students may view a series of film clips with the volume turned down. Students are then asked to comment on how the characters on the screen are feeling e.g., terrified, elated, shy. Students may also watch an episode of “Mr. Bean” as an alternative, if their Board is licensed to show feature film. Students recognize that it is possible to communicate without speaking and that how we communicate with others is largely determined by our body language. Students may view or read the work of authors such as Desmond Morris and recognize that there is a scientific rationale for body language. As a result, students are able to read the body language of others and act appropriately in certain social situations e.g., recognize when another person is excited, nervous, angry.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher presents students with a series of articles/videos detailing the importance of body language when communicating with others. The teacher shows a series of film clips of people in various social situations. During the clip, the teacher may choose to pause the screen and ask students to determine what a character is feeling/thinking based solely on their body language. The teacher records student responses on the board/overhead. The teacher may choose to develop question sheets for the articles or film clips prior to showing the clips and have students respond directly on the sheets or in their notebooks. Rowan Atkinson’s “Mr. Bean” series is an ideal choice to illustrate the point that our body language can tell a story. At the discretion of the teacher, students may read or view material generated by authors such as Desmond Morris who offers a scientific rationale for our body language. Teacher emphasizes to students that speakers must be aware of their own body language and the message they are conveying to others. Speakers must also be able to read the non-verbal signs being conveyed by their audience and react accordingly. Teacher emphasizes the notion that the ability to be aware of and control body language is vital for an effective speaker/presenter. An awareness of other people’s body language will help students determine how they will react. This is an ideal opportunity for the teacher to introduce the notion that not all body language is universal and that certain behaviours such as making eye contact may be viewed as attentiveness in some cultures and defiance in others. Therefore, the teacher reinforces the importance of acknowledging the cultural makeup of an audience prior to speaking.

1.4.2 Student Activity: Students are now aware of the importance of body language and able to recognize that certain gestures/gesticulations and expressions express a non-verbal message. Students now have an opportunity to develop an understanding of their own body language. Students are introduced to the concept of the tableau. Students are presented with the scenario of a family photo. Students are asked to produce two versions of the photo through their actions. One version would be the photo for the family album and the other would be a picture that would convey, in a non-verbal fashion, the actual relationship that exists between the various family members (e.g., jealousy, love, resentment). In groups, students present their tableau. Students in the audience are asked to determine the relationships that exist between the family members in the tableau. Audience members are asked to provide evidence to support their claims.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher begins the activity with an introduction to the tableau and non-verbal communication. Expectations for the tableau presentation are developed.

1.4.3. Student Activity: Students are exposed to or shown distracting behaviour exhibited by a speaker/presenter. Students could respond in either a written or oral form as to why these actions would negatively influence how an audience reacts to a speaker. Students understand how to “win over” an audience and leave a positive rather than negative impression.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher models and acts out distracting behaviour or show video samples. The teacher may provide a handout for the activity or simply have students respond orally to the behaviour. Students, cognizant of the negative impact of distracting behaviour, will avoid these behaviours in future presentations.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Task

Tool

Category

Learning Skill

Tableau

Student self-assessment checklist

Teacher – marking scheme

Application

Communication

Teamwork

Work habits

Response to distracting behaviour

Anecdotal

Thinking

Initiative

Accommodations

·         The teacher clarifies instructions on an individual basis when necessary.

Resources

Booth, D.W. and C.J. Lundy. Improvisation: Learning through Drama. Toronto: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1985.

Communication Skills Websites – www.selfgrowth.com/comm.html
Collection of articles on body language and communication skills.

Morgan, N., and N. Saxton. Teaching Drama. London: Hutchinson Education, 1987.

Neelands, J. Structuring Drama Work. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.

Centre for Nonverbal Studies – www.Members.aol.com/nonverbal2/index.html

 

Activity 1.5:  What Effective Speakers Do

Time:  120 minutes

Description

Students identify the qualities of a good speaker including notions such as knowledge of material, passion for the topic. The teacher provides students with sample visual speeches and develops a sample evaluation chart. Students assess whether the speakers were successful in conveying their message to the audience and why. Students formulate a chart specifying the qualities of an effective speaker. Students avoid the flaws they recognize in the presentations of others. Students recognize the power of a good speaker in expressing themselves as believers in Christ, working to create a just and compassionate society.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

PP1.04 - analyse the use of rhetorical and stylistic devices in oral presentations;

PP1.06 - explain the techniques effective speakers use to make convincing presentations (e.g., describe the body language and vocal inflection used in a motivational speech; explain the importance of volume, pace of speech, pitch, tone of voice, eye contact, facial expression, posture, dress, movement, and gesture in effective presentations; assess the use of visual aids, periodic summations, and transition words to hold audience attention; assess the use of presentation software to emphasize key points in a sales presentation);

RP1.02 - assess the effectiveness of a presenter’s ideas, arguments, and organization (e.g., assess the extent to which the needs of the audience have been met by the content of a presentation; use an evaluation checklist to assess clarity of arguments, persuasiveness, and quality of refutations in a debate; identify logical fallacies in oral presentations and assess the extent to which they undermine the credibility of the speaker’s message; use a graphic organizer to track the organization of the ideas in a presentation).

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations

CGE3c - thinks reflectively and creatively to evaluate situations and solve problems.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Awareness of the rhetorical devices used in effective oral presentations.

Planning Notes

·         The teacher gathers a series of videotapes of speeches on a variety of topics.

·         The teacher may generate an evaluation sheet listing the criteria or characteristics associated with an effective speaker. Space should be left on the handout for student-generated criteria to be incorporated. Another option would be to generate the list after the class discussion.

·         The teacher needs a television/VCR system to present the speeches to class.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.5.1 Student Activity: Students engage in a discussion of the characteristics of a successful speaker. What specific techniques do effective speakers employ (e.g., eye contact, posture, dress)? Students generate a list of the qualities of an effective speaker. This list is transformed into a handout by the teacher. Students keeps this list in their notebook and use it as a reference for all future oral presentations.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher asks, “What do effective speakers do?” The teacher records student responses on the board/overhead. The teacher organizes suggestions provided by students into an organized handout. The teacher may have to augment student suggestions with his/her own material.

1.5.2 Student Activity: Students view a series of speeches selected by the teacher. Using the evaluation criteria established, students analyse the speeches to determine if the speakers were effective. Students recognize the strengths and weaknesses of effective presentations. At the discretion of the teacher, students may present their findings in either an oral or written form. Submissions may be on a group or individual basis.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher shows a series of effective and ineffective speeches. The teacher asks students to analyse the speeches using the evaluation criteria established in Activity 1.4.1. The initial student responses may be oral and the teacher should ask students to defend their assertions regarding the effectiveness of the speech. The teacher chooses a specific speech for students to assess in a formal written submission. An alternative might be to have students working in groups of four write and submit one written response per group. The teacher may choose to have individual groups listen to and analyse different speeches.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Task

Tool

Category

Learning Skill

Group discussion

Anecdotal

Communication

Thinking

Teamwork

Quiz on terms associated with qualities of a good speaker

Marking scheme

Knowledge

Works independently

Written submission

Marking scheme

Communication

Application

Work habits

Accommodations

·         The written submission can be replaced with an oral submission.

·         Students may submit work on an individual or group basis.

·         The teacher may modify the length of the written submission, provide extra conferences where necessary, and/or modify time requirements.

Resources

Hasling, J. The Audience, The Message and The Speaker, 6th ed. McGraw Hill. ISBN 07-027027-9

Johnson, C.E. and M.Z. Hackman. Creative Communication: Principles and Applications. Waveland Press, 1995. ISBN 0-881-33828-1

Nobel winning prize speeches for literature – www.nobel.se/literature/laureates/index.html

Sands, Helen. Building Skills and Confidence, 4th ed. McGraw Hill, 2000. ISBN 0-07-240066-8

Vancil, D.L. Rhetoric and Argumentation. McGraw Hill; 1999. ISBN 0-07-232469-4

World Famous Speeches (with video) – http://iac.co.ip/~minds/wfs.html

 

Activity 1.6:  Putting It All Together

Time:  480 minutes

Description

This serves as the culminating activity for this unit. Students produce an original speech and present it to their peers. In this particular activity, students are asked to incorporate and demonstrate the skills they have acquired in the previous activities. Therefore, the teacher reviews the power of words, qualities of an effective speaker, audience awareness, and the importance of body language in communicating your message. This provides students with an opportunity to evaluate their skills and beliefs and articulate these values so as to impact positively on their audience.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

PPV.02 - plan presentations for specific purposes and audiences;

MPV.01 - communicate orally for a variety of specific purposes and audiences, using the forms, language, and techniques of effective oral presentations;

PP2.03 - select relevant and significant information from research to suit the purpose and audience;

MP1.01 - make presentations in a variety of forms for various purposes and audiences;

MP1.03 - use appropriate techniques in oral presentations (e.g., use techniques such as rhetorical questions, repetition, and dramatic pauses in a speech promoting a student-operated business; provide information at an appropriate pace in a student seminar; vary volume, pitch, and inflection for emphasis and to maintain audience interest in an oral report);

MP1.04 - monitor audience reactions during a presentation and adapt delivery accordingly (e.g., ask questions to check audience understanding and engagement; rephrase main ideas for clarification; speed up delivery to recapture the attention of a restless audience; add humour to reinforce and emphasize key points; respond quickly, confidently, and appropriately to unexpected digressions, interruptions, or questions during the presentation);

MP2.01 - create and use appropriate visual aids, such as flipcharts, posters, transparencies, slides, videos, tables, and graphs, to clarify meaning in presentations;

MP2.02 - select and use appropriate technologies, such as videotapes, projectors, presentation software, and computers, to enhance the effectiveness of presentations;

RPV.01 - produce personal and critical responses to a variety of presentations.

Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations

CGE2c - presents information and ideas clearly and honestly and with sensitivity to others;

CGE2d - writes and speaks fluently one or both of Canada’s official languages;

CGE4a - demonstrates a confident and positive sense of self and respect for the dignity and welfare of others;

CGE4f - applies effective communication, decision-making, problem-solving, time, and resource management skills;

CGE4g - examines and reflects on one’s personal values, abilities, and aspirations influencing life’s choice and opportunities.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Familiarity with terms associated with speaking/presenting in Activities 1.1-1.5.

Planning Notes

·         The teacher develops a rubric to be used to evaluate the speech and shares criteria with the class prior to the actual presentations. A sample of an appropriate rubric is found in the Course Overview. At the teacher’s discretion, students may be involved in the generation of the rubric for the speech. The teacher emphasizes that this is an opportunity to demonstrate sensitivity and respect for others.

·         If students are being asked to present a demonstration speech then the teacher may wish to generate a series of potential topics in conjunction with the class e.g., how to snowboard.

·         A video camera is needed if students engage in a detailed self-analysis of their own speech. It is beneficial if each student has their own videotape to record both their speech and future oral presentations.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.6.1 Student Activity: At this stage, students review the terminology and skills covered in the opening five activities of the unit. Students are provided with or aid in the development of a rubric to evaluate the speech they present. Students have an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the qualities of an effective speaker through their own oral presentation, three to five minutes in length. Students may perform a traditional speech on a topic they have chosen or a demonstration activity in which students teach a specific skill. Another option would be to have students deliver a speech entitled, “What’s My Sign?” Students are asked to create a symbol which represents them as a person (Appendix 1.D – What’s My Sign?). Students have their presentation video-taped and played back to them. Both the teacher and the student have the opportunity to evaluate the speech and establish goals for future presentations. Part of the evaluation process may be the student’s written or oral self-assessment to the teacher. At the teacher’s discretion, peers may be involved in the evaluation process.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher reviews the terminology and skills presented in the initial five activities. The teacher emphasizes to students that this is their opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of what they have learned through a formal oral presentation. Students need to be aware of the purpose of the activity, their audience, their body language, and the skills required for a successful presentation. Students engage in all aspects of the “presentation process”: brainstorming, researching, audience identification, evaluation and organization of material, initial drafting, rehearsing, presenting, and self-analysis. In essence, the teacher moves the focus of the unit from the theoretical to the practical. Students must now incorporate effective strategies in their own presentations.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Task

Tool

Category

Learning Skill

Rehearsal

Anecdotal

Student self-assessment

Communication

Work habits

Oral presentation

Rubric

Knowledge, Thinking, Communication, Application

Works independently

 

Accommodations

·         As this is one of the initial major speaking activities, arrangements could be made for students to deliver their speech to the teacher on an individual basis or smaller group setting. Students could also videotape their presentations rather than present in class. This could be appropriate for ESL students or students who are hesitant to speak in front of their peers.

·         The written version of the speech may be evaluated with the emphasis placed on content rather than traditional grammar/style concerns. The teacher may choose to have certain students submit it as a task completion exercise where marks are allocated for completing the written speech and submitting it.

·         The teacher may provide students with previously prepared speeches, already in print, and focus on the delivery rather than preparation.

Resources

Communication Skills from Iowa State University – www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/communication.html
Articles and activities regarding communication skills from
Iowa State University.

Giving a Speech – 10 Tips for Public Speaking -www.fripp.com/art.10tips.html
Noted speaker Patricia Fripp shares her Top 10 suggestions for public speaking

Listening Skills -www.cyberparent.com/talk/listen/html
Communication quiz and listening skills

University Of Kansas - www.ukans.edu/cwis/units/coms2/vpa/vpa1.htm
University of Kansas Communication Skills


Appendix 1.A

Effective Oral Communication – A Recipe for Personal Success

 

Every day, you communicate with others. It is part of the human condition that you desire to interact with others. How you communicate with others enables you to think, learn and exchange ideas. Throughout this course, you will work on developing your oral communication skills to ensure that you are confident in your ability to express yourself in a variety of social situations. The notion that practice makes perfect really hold true for this particular course, as you will find that the more often you have the opportunity to speak to a small group, the more comfortable you will become with this activity. Speaking with confidence will enable you to transform both your own life and the lives of those around you.

Speaking for Yourself – Often people feel that they have a great deal to say or contribute but they may lack the confidence to offer their opinion or initiate a conversation. Throughout this section of the course, you will discover that you have a great deal to offer and that people are genuinely interested in what you have to say and how you feel about a number of issues.

Speaking for the Classroom – The ability to present your ideas to a group of your peers in an entertaining and informative manner is a skill that will help you in your academic subjects. In the senior grades you are often called upon to present seminars, speeches and reports to your classmates. In this section of the course, we will examine ways to ensure that you are well prepared, knowledgeable about your audience/purpose, conscious of a variety of approaches or techniques and confident in your ability to get your message across.

Speaking for Careers/Workplace – In the near future, you will be seeking full-time employment and currently you may be working on a part-time basis; thus, we will examine the role communication plays in the workplace. Often, how we communicate may determine:

·         Whether we get the job we desire;

·         Whether we sell our product;

·         Whether we enjoy our work environment with our peers.

Employers are looking for people with the ability to express themselves well and work cooperatively with a group/team towards a common goal.

Speaking for the Community – Often people are provided with the opportunity to talk to a group at a social gathering in order to express their feelings about a specific topic, event or person. These are wonderful experiences; having the confidence to speak in public will enable you to seize these opportunities. It is gratifying to be the Master of Ceremonies, toast the Bride/Groom, or deliver a Eulogy. These are precious moments in our lives and we want to be able to communicate how we feel and what we believe in to the people who are closest to us.

 

Each of us within this room has the ability to be an effective communicator and express what we feel to others. It will be our goal to discover the communicator within us and provide one another with the opportunities and encouragement needed to improve our speaking and presenting skills.


Appendix 1.B

Glossary of Terms Associated with Communication

Anecdote

Audience

Colloquial Expressions

Connotative

Denotative

Gestures/Gesticulation

Non-Verbal Communication

Purpose

Style

Tableau

Thesis

Tone

 

Appendix 1.C

Radio Station Play List Activity

Your group has been selected to act as program directors for our high school radio station. The administration has informed you that a pre-approved list of 15 CDs are provided for you monthly. However, you only have the budget to purchase six of these CDs. It is your responsibility to ensure that a wide variety of musical tastes are represented on the station. Here is your first list of 15 titles. Please be aware that your group is expected to:

·         Agree as to what will comprise the final list

·         Be prepared to defend your choices both in oral and written form.

·         Be respectful of everyone and their choices.

Here is your Top 15 list:

1.         Metallica (Heavy Metal)

2.         Madonna (Dance/Pop)

3.         N’Sync (Dance/Pop)

4.         Tragically Hip (Rock)

5.         Rascalz (Rap)

6.         Garth Brooks (Country)

7.         Greatest Dance Hits (Dance)

8.         Green Day (Punk)

9.         Limp Bizkit (Punk/Rap/Rock)

10.        Shania Twain (Country/Pop)

11.        The Classical Experience (Classical)

12.        Shaggy (Reggae)

13.        Celine Dion (Pop)

14.        Elvis Presley (Old Rock)

15.        Offspring (Punk/Alternative)


Appendix 1.D

What’s My Sign?

 

The following activity will encourage you to incorporate the lessons that you have learned regarding the power of language, the use of symbols, and effective ways to express yourself in a public forum.

 

1.   Initially, you must choose one word or phrase that expresses who you are as a person. The idea being that if I saw you in a hallway with this word on, I would be able to get a sense of who you are (e.g., your personality, philosophy of life, interests, etc.). You must use an ORIGINAL phrase and not something plagiarized such as “JUST DO IT” or a cliché such as love. The word should apply to you as an individual and not people in general.

 

2.   You are expected to create a visual to bring your word or phrase to life. The visual should be bold and easy to read. It will also be necessary for you to be able to wear this sign and thus you will become a “Human Billboard” but this time you will not be discussing a product but rather yourself.

 

3.   You are expected to produce a three to five minute speech that will inform your peers what the connection is between you and the accompanying visual. In your speech you will discuss:

·         The connection between yourself and this word;

·         The meaning behind the visual which accompanies this particular word or phrase (e.g., the colours, pictures selected);

·         You may choose to use personal anecdotes in your speech;

·         The purpose of the speech will be to entertain and inform, but your tone may be comedic or serious.

 

4.   The project will be marked using two essential criteria:

·         the effort put forth in creating your sign and establishing a clear connection between the word and symbol;

·         your ability to communicate orally with classmates utilizing the qualities of an effective speaker (e.g., eye contact, pacing, etc.).

 

5.   The day prior to the presentation, you are expected to show your teacher a copy of the final draft of your speech. Your artwork need not be submitted until the day of your presentation. There will be no impromptu or spur of the moment speeches and you will be required to submit a written copy of your speech.

 

Draft of Speech due:

 

Presentation Date:

 

 

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