Informative Speech Assignment: Due April 13th

" Sharing information with others to enhance their knowledge for and understanding about something" --Beebe and Beebe, p. 334). Using the same outline we have worked with all semester (see previous blog, under January of 2007), construct an informative speech about a theme, scene, character, issue and/or demonstration taken from the viewing of the film Blood Diamond in class (if you missed class, rent it and watch it OR research it on-line if you don't have time to view the entire film.) Review chapter 15 on informative speaking, and find at least one item of research to use for oral citations in your speech. Find a great example on page 350-351. Shoot for about a 5 minute speech, using at least one visual aid along with your verbal citation and 3 clear, interesting main points in the body of your speech (these points might be examples or steps in a process, depending on your topic choice). Email Sandra your topic selection asap for approval and to avoid more than one speech on the exact same topic. Be sure to clarify in your introduction the connection between your speech and the film Blood Diamond and avoid any long summaries of the film, we will all have seen it and need only a brief allusion to the scene or theme you choose to reference. Review chapter 13 on good speech delivery techniques and also review chapter 11 on outlining in order to achieve the strongest grade possible for this assignment. Memorize your attention getter and try not to look at your note cards until your first transition into the body of your speech! Turn in your final outline to me the night you make your speech. Early drafts are welcome by email for feedback and input from yours truly. BLOG ON! --Your Informative yet interesting instructor--Sandra

Class March 30th: Starbucks

Join us at 530pm at Starbucks Coffee Company (916-688-8505) located at 8240 Calvine Rd Sacramento CA 95828-9310, behind LOWE'S near the Power Inn intersection. Get your midterm grades, group speech grades and discuss the informative speech and the film Blood Diamond.

blood diamond

What did you think of the film? What was the main point? Who was the real hero? Should consumers take responsibility for atrocities in underdeveloped nations? What does the film suggest about value, financial and personal?

My Hero From the Womens' Movement!

AIN'T I A WOMAN?
by Sojourner Truth

Speech delivered 1851 at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio during the begining of a violent riot, people were trying to break down the door and drag her to prison for speaking in public as a Black woman, and she was risking her life to be heard and demand her rights to be freed from slavery and vote as a woman in the US:


Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?
That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?
Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?
Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.
If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.

Note her use of repetition in this simple, yet powerfulspeech: Interested in this amazing, brave trailblazer? Visit http://www.sojournertruthmemorial.org/history.html for more and share your comments below. Great job on your womens' history speeches last week!!!!!!! Wow!

I got the MUSIC in me...ba-buhm...dah..da....ooohh

Hi Everyone! Great job making it half way through the semester, I am really enjoying our class, you are all so unique and have such facinating insight and ideas. I am really looking froward to your next speeches, please email me if you have any questions before Friday. Okay--for this week's blog, I want to hear about a musician you admire, enjoy OR despise...and why. Also, how are music and speeches similar? What awesome quality of a singer or song writer you admire can you borrow in order to become a more engaging, colorful, attention-getting speaker?--S

PS: I'LL PROVIDE MY OWN ANSWER AS AN EXAMPLE TO GET YOU STARTED...I chose PINK because my friend Sam tries to keep my up to speed on the music scene and has burned me a few of her CD's -- I think she seems smart and I like that she is interested in empowering young women and being politically active about issues she feels are important. In that way, since both concerts and classrooms have "audiences" -- I hope I can find ways to be myself, stay a bit irreverent and speak out about important issues in my classroom and when I speak to students, but without compromising my credibility, which Pink seems to have done, unlike other irreverent musicians like Brittany, etc who have lost their intellectual credibility.

"Kiss Me, I'm ..."

Hi My St. Paddy's Day pals! The holiday is coming up, and as communication scholars, I want you to ponder the following: Is the American celebration of St Patrick's Day "stereotypical"? Does it promote awareness and appreciation of Irish culture, or just a lot of green beer swigging and cultural sterotypes? Use your critical thinking skills to express your opinion!

Study Guide: Midterm 2007

Click on comments to post the study guide for the chapters which your group looked up. TEAMWORK!!! Email Sandra with specific questions if you have them before next Friday's test.