Perfecting the Platform: Traditions & Trends in Platform ...



Perfecting the Platform: Traditions & Trends in Platform Speech Events

Platform Speech Events:

PERSUASION: A speech to convince, to move to action, or to inspire on a significant issue, delivered from memory or note cards. Visual aids are permitted. Maximum time is 10 minutes.

COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS: Contestants will deliver an original critical analysis designed to offer an explanation and/or evaluation of a communication event such as a speech, speaker, movement, poem, poster, film, campaign, etc., through the use of rhetorical principles. Any legitimate critical methodology or communication theory is permissible as long as it serves to explain the artifact to the audience. The speech must be delivered from memory or note cards. Visual aids are permitted. Maximum 10 minutes.

INFORMATIVE: The contestant will deliver an original factual speech on a realistic subject to fulfill a general information need of the audience. Visual aids that supplement/ reinforce the message are permitted. The speech must be delivered from memory or note cards. Maximum 10 minutes.

AFTER DINNER: Each contestant will present an original speech whose purpose is to make a serious point through the use of humor. The speech should reflect the development of a humorous comedic effort, not a stand up comedy routine. The speech must be delivered from memory or note cards. Maximum 10 minutes.

LIMITED PREPARATION SPEECHES

EXTEMPORANEOUS: For each round, contestants will select one of three topics on current national and international events. The contestant will have thirty minutes to prepare a five to seven minute speech on the topic selected. Notes are permissible but should be at a minimum. Maximum 7 minutes. (At some tournaments this event is a 6-minute max. speech with l additional minute for a single pertinent question from the judge).

IMPROMPTU: Contestants will receive short excerpts, quotes, or proverbs dealing with items of general interest, political, economic, and social issues. The contestant will have a total of seven minutes to divide between preparation and speaking. Students should speak for at least four minutes. Maximum 7 minutes. (At some tournaments this event is a 6-minute max. speech with l additional minute for a single pertinent question from the judge).

Choosing a Topic:

Handout Platform Topic Areas explain that they are broad sections; speech topics must be more specific. Discuss,

1) Social significance

2) Audience interest

3) Current trends in topic selection

Speech Type Quiz – What kind of a speech is…

|A speech discussing the use of CIA secret prisons by the U.S. government and encouraging public outcry. | |

| |Persuasive Speech |

|A speech explaining and analyzing a UNICEF advertisement in Belgium that shows the smurf village being bombed |Communication Analysis |

|to raise awareness about the consequences of war. | |

|A speech about a "virtually untreatable" form of TB that has recently emerged. |Informative Speech |

|A speech that examines the feminist movement by humorously highlighting a group of women who fight for the |After Dinner Speech |

|right to pee standing up. | |

Using Your Assets, Where to Go for a Topic & Sources:

Because you want a topic that is new and fresh you must consult recent resources. It is o.k. to tackle a well-known topic, but only if you have a new spin. Judges sit through many speeches and they are most likely to vote for those that really inform them or persuade them on an interesting topic.

Discuss platform speech resources:

1) Periodicals & Journals, the ACI library collection has many current periodicals on just about every subject – utilize the librarian when looking for the ones in your topic area.

2) Books, search bookstore websites to locate books on your topic and check at the local libraries.

3) Articles, check out Nexus Lexus on an ACI computer – search for your topic area. There are also tons of legitimate websites that can help you find info, like major news organizations and online publications. For example, lets you search by subject.

4) Professors, if you have a scientific topic, drop by a science professors office – if a political topic, stay after class with a political science prof. to discuss it – not only will you get to hear their take on the subject but they may also be able to point you to related resources.

Components of a Platform Speech:

Handout Platform Speech Outline. Explain that writing a speech is closely related to writing a good research paper.

1. Preliminary Information/Header

Topic, Audience, Refine and limit topic, Purpose Statement, Organizational Method or Pattern.

Once you have completed these five parts of the 'Header', you are then ready to start planning the speech itself.

2. Introduction

Greeting and Attention getter, Thesis Statement, Outline of main the points, Why should our audience listen?

3. The body

Transition, Main points and ideas. Handout the Visual Aids sheet.

4. The conclusion

Transition, Restatement of main points, Closer.

Physical Movement & the Platform Speech:

While there are not any rules limiting the movement of a platform speaker, there are some undocumented codes of conduct when presenting a speech.

Explain and Demonstrate the Platform Triangle for each main point.

Discuss meaningful hand movements – incorporated for emphasis at specific points of interest. Talk about the need for memorized speeches to freely move arms.

Talk about the use of visual aids and how they should be displayed, turned, and covered once the applicable point is finished.

*ACTIVITY: The Object of this activity is to get up and stretch – and have you practice the choreography for a platform speech.

Triangle Tag: Go outside. Decide upon a space with out-of-bounds lines. Choose someone to be “it”. Everyone, including “it” must move only in a 3-point triangular motion. You can vary the length of your triangle sides to try to avoid “it” or catch the others. Once the person who is “it” touches you, you are out for the rest of the round. Last one touched becomes the “it”.

After playing 1 or 2 rounds, ask the students to now pay attention to their arm and hand motions. Encourage them to try and make every movement strong and purposeful.

Invite the students back into the classroom and have them take a seat.

*ACTIVITY: The Object of this activity is to read an article and present a basic introduction, 3 main points (either to inform or persuade), and a conclusion. But here’s the spin – the audience is going to track your speech fluency and there will be a prize for the student with the least amount of fluency breaks.

Fluency Speech Activity

1. Students are to choose current news articles that the teacher has pre-selected and printed.

2. Students are given time to read their articles (10 minutes or so).

3. After students have read their articles, they are to stand in front of the class and delivery a summary of what they read without having more than ONE fluency break. A fluency break (sometimes known as a filler) is considered to be any one of the following: “uh,” “um,” “like,” (if it’s not used as a preposition or a verb), “you know,” “stuff,” and making a smacking sound with their tongue or lips.

4. Have the students count the fluency breaks of each other, the student with the least amount of breaks chooses a prize.

Questions & Event/Topic Discussion:

Ask if anyone has a question about writing or performing a platform speech. Go around the group and ask each student which events they would like to be in and what topic ideas they have.

Handout flyer for Impromptu & Special Events Seminars. Announce the date for Platform Night before the first tournament.

Howlin’ Yotes Cheer and Close.

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