Public Speaking Evaluation #2

My task is to compare three speeches and show their strong and weak points.

The 1^st place –  The speech №2

The 2d place–  The speech №1

The 3d place –  The speech №3

To prove the results I will compare the speeches according to evaluation speech content component:

Speech №1

1.  Introduction

·    What technique(s) was used in the introduction? (attention-getter?) Yes, rhetorical question was used as an attention-getter. There were series of questions that lead to the supporting sentence.

·    Any link element? There is the link to the thesis: “If your answer is ‘yes’ something needs to be done immediately…”

                

·    Was the thesis statement given?

The thesis was given after the link element: “…To answer the question let’s have a look at three things…the Ps of our life: plans for the future, people around us, and our personal development”.

·    How effective was introduction? Very effective (10 points)

Max points 10

2.  Body

·    How well structured was the information presented?

 Highly organized (9). There are 3 paragraphs for each statement referenced in the thesis.

·    What organizational structure was used in the body of the speech?

1.  Topical sentence outline

2.  Sentences giving explanations and providing evidence

3. Concluding sentence

·    How understandable was the information (was it clearly explained?) Had some problems (6).  It is hard to follow the main idea of the speech as the given arguments deviate from the topic.  There are few link elements and the logic of the narration is ruined in some parts of the speech.

·    Quality of point – support (appropriates, completeness, variety) Some (7).  The support is not completed because some aspects stay untold.

·    Use of facts/illustrations/examples/stories Almost no (4). Explanation of the thesis badly organized because there is only one example, in other cases the argumentation is not connected with the statement.

·    Was it coherent? Despite the mistakes, the speech body is coherent. (9)

Max points 7

3.  Conclusion

·    What technique(s) was used in the conclusion? Use a quotation, rhetorical question.  

·    Were all the steps followed (summary, action, emotional appeal?) The short summary is not used but there  are call for some kind of action and emotional appeal.

·    How effective was the conclusion?

Effective (7).

Max points 7

STRENTH: All the components of the introduction are observed. The use of the thesis is evident.

WEAKNESS: The link elements in the main body are inadequate. The argumentation is poorly organized.

TOTAL 8

Speech №2

4.  Introduction

·    What technique(s) was used in the introduction? (attention-getter?)

Quotation from the book.

·    Any link element?

The link element is “These words were written by Somerset Maugham in his novel..”

·    Was the thesis statement given? Yes, it was: “And I want to prove it examining three things – suffering, train, love”.

·    How effective was introduction?

Very effective (8).

5.  Body

·    How well structured was the information presented?

Highly organized (8).

·    What organizational structure was used in the body of the speech?

1.  Topical sentence outline

2.  Sentences giving explanations and providing evidence

3. Concluding sentence

·    How understandable was the information (was it clearly explained?)

Had some problems (7). There is a lack of clearance of the explanation of the given statement.

·    Quality of point – support (appropriates, completeness, variety)

Lots of. (9) The argumentation is organized in different ways. The author shows his/her attitude towards the problem by showing personal experience and use a quotation as an argument to support the position.

·    Use of facts/illustrations/examples/stories

Lots of (8).

·    Was it coherent?

Yes, i give 8 pts.

6.  Conclusion

·    What technique(s) was used in the conclusion? Quotation, the rhetorical question.  

·    Were all the steps followed (summary, action, emotional appeal?) All the steps are used.

·    How effective was the conclusion?

Very effective (8).

STRENTH: The structure of the argumentation part is interesting (the paragraph is divided into two to emphasis). The speech is rich in colorful examples and  quotations, personal experience. The conclusion is thought-provoking and inspiring.   

WEAKNESS: There is a long time-taking introduction in contrast to the conclusion.

TOTAL 8,6

7.  Introduction

·    What technique(s) was used in the introduction? (attention-getter?) Quotation. Series of rhetorical questions.  

·    Any link element?

“Today I want to tell…”

·    Was the thesis statement given?

No, it was not.

·    How effective was introduction?

Average (6).

8.  Body

·    How well structured was the information presented?

Some organization (7).

·    What organizational structure was used in the body of the speech?

1.  Topical sentence outline

2.  Sentences giving explanations and providing evidence

3. Concluding sentence

4. Link to the other paragraph

·    How understandable was the information (was it clearly explained?)

Had some problems (6) because the concrete statements were not given that’s why the argumentation has shortcoming.  

·    Quality of point – support (appropriates, completeness, variety)

Some (7). There is no logical completeness of each statement.

·    Use of facts/illustrations/examples/stories

Lots of (9).

·    Was it coherent?

9.

9.  Conclusion

·    What technique(s) was used in the conclusion? Question to the audience.

·    Were all the steps followed (summary, action, emotional appeal?) There is lack of summary, but the author uses the technique of emotional appeal.

·    How effective was the conclusion?

Some conclusion (6).

STRENTH: Rich in personal experience.

WEAKNESS: The structure of the speech is not observed. There is no thesis.

TOTAL 6,5