Critique

Emmanuel College is committed to writing across the curriculum. This assignment allows students to practice their researching and presentation skills in this 3-5 minute presentation as well as giving them the opportunity to sharpen their written communication skills by writing a 2-3 page critique of a famous speech in this country's history.

Objectives

This assignment allows students to accomplish the following:

	to become familiar with famous speeches in this country's history,
	to identify the speaker, the occasion, the subject and major points of that speech,
	to explain the information included in the introduction, body and conclusion of that speech,
	to give students strong examples of how to present speech information,
	to recognize the inherent value of all human beings by demonstrating the importance of effectively and respectfully communicating with all members of society, including women, people with varied cultural backgrounds, people with special needs, and others, and
	to present this information orally in 3-5 minutes and in written form in 2-3 pages.

Procedures

Paper

For the paper, students should locate a famous speech in our nation's history from American Rhetoric's Top 100 Speeches. The instructor must approve the choice (so each student chooses a different speech). This 2-3 page paper is to be typed, double-spaced and should follow standard style guidelines, e.g., APA, MLA.

After the instructor approves the speech selection, the student should review it (perhaps several times) to determine its purpose and main points. To understand the relevance of the speech, research the speech and speaker to determine what was taking place in the world at that time. Find out why the speech is significant. What makes it so significant that it is one of the most important speeches in America?

In the introduction of the paper, identify the speaker and the occasion/purpose of the speech. Explain what makes the speech significant by sharing your research, stating the purpose of the speech in one sentence, and listing the main points of the speech. At the end of the introduction, state the purpose of this paper, which is to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the speech.

The body of the paper will have two main points: strengths and weaknesses. Focus on what makes the speech strong and what makes it weak based on chapters 12-17 of your textbook. Be sure to include specific examples from the speech as you explain the strengths and weakness. For example, the organization might have been a weakness, but the speaker's delivery might have been a strength.

In the conclusion of the paper, restate the purpose of the paper and briefly recap why the speech is significant. End it with a quote from the speech or about the speech.

Need help?

Make an appointment with EC's Student Success Center for help with all stages of the writing process. Walk-ins are possible. (You may also click here see how to outline a critique or for more information on writing critiques).

Presentation

This 3-5 minute presentation is extemporaneous and should be organized the same as the paper. At least three PowerPoint slides are required (see PowerPoint tips) (Hint: it would be nice to see a picture of the speaker.) Be sure follow the speech checklist. During the presentation, speakers may rely on minimal notes or outlines but may not read the paper to the class.