Finalizing and Presenting the Speech In this part of the activity, you will use the sources you identified in task 1, the thesis statement you created, and your teacher's feedback to strengthen, develop, and organize the content of your speech. You will then write the text of the speech. The target audience for your speech is your teacher, so your speech should be appropriate for a formal setting.
Part A
Review the feedback you received from your teacher on your thesis and sources. Using this feedback to strengthen your stance and thesis, create an outline of your speech to decide how you will group and sequence the facts, opinions, and arguments you present to support your thesis statement. Your outline should build on your original plan by indicating how you will include ideas from the sources you identified in task 1.

Your outline should also show how you will structure the introduction, body, and conclusion of your speech.

Type your outline in the space provided.

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Part B
Using the outline you created, write the first draft of your speech in the blank space provided below. Your speech should be between six and eight minutes long and formal in style. Keep in mind that an average person speaks about 150 words per minute, so your speech will be between 900 and 1,200 words long. As you write your draft, remember that your purpose is to persuade your audience to accept the opinion reflected in the thesis statement.

Your introduction should include the thesis statement and should pull your reader into your speech, showing the audience why they should care about this topic. The body of the speech is where you develop your main ideas and provide supporting evidence and arguments. You should consider any counterarguments to your position and address those positions when necessary. Work with the resources you consulted by quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing them. Use appropriate citations wherever needed. Finally, your conclusion should not only summarize the main points of the paper but also leave readers with a message that gives the speech a sense of completeness.

The ideas in your speech should flow in a smooth sequence, and your speech as a whole should be focused on your thesis. Use a variety of phrases and clauses to add interest to your speech. Avoid deviations from your main topic.

Consider the following resources to help you write your first draft:

Starting the Writing Process
Crafting Speeches
Persuasive Speaking
Write your draft in the space provided.

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Part C
After writing the first draft, proofread your paper and revise it to improve your writing. Use vocabulary that is appropriate to your audience and consistent with the overall style of your speech. In this case, your speech is formal, so avoid using colloquial expressions or slang. You might want to consult this Knowledge Article to learn more about revising your paper effectively.

At the end of your speech, cite all the works you used to write your speech in MLA style.

Write the final draft of the speech in the space provided. Be sure to include your sources.

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Part D
Rehearse your speech a few times before you record the version using an audio recording tool, that you submit to your teacher for grading. Repeated practice and a thorough familiarity with the topic of your speech can help you be more confident.

Speak audibly, articulate your words clearly, and pause at appropriate points. The tone of your voice should match the formal tone of the text of your speech. Read this guide to learn about techniques to improve your speech. The right physical posture and gestures can also enhance the impact of your speech. Stay relaxed and try to avoid excessively dramatic gestures.

After you create the final draft of your speech, using an audio recording tool, record a presentation of your speech that is between six and eight minutes long.

Upload your presentation to the Graded Activities panel on the left-hand side of your screen. Be sure to submit it for grading.