YEAR 11 ENGLISH UNIT 1

AOS: IDENTITY AND BELONGING

WRITING WORKSHOP 3: ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Aim

To revise some strategies for planning and performing an effective oral presentation.

WHY DO I HAVE TO DO THIS?

Part of English is learning how to improve your listening and speaking skills. This is the main way we communicate with each other!

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PRESENTATION?

When you are standing in front of people and speaking, you MUST consider and plan for the following tips:

  1. BODY LANGUAGE. You are trying to engage an audience, you will not be able to do this if you are not showing positive body language. Don’t cross your arms across your body, don’t look at your feet, and don’t look depressed!
  2. VOICE PROJECTION. You need to make sure that we can hear you at the back of the room. Speak out towards us, rather than down. Also, try to vary the tone of your voice- don’t speak like a robot!
  3. GESTURES. You don’t have to stand with your hands by your side! If you want to make a point, try slamming your fist on the table. If you want to ask a question, try opening your arms out. If you want to target us as your audience, point at us! Channel you inner-weather presenter!
  4. KNOWING YOUR STUFF. Make sure you have researched and prepared your topic or idea. An audience is able to work out very quickly if you are winging it, so you need to come across as an expert on what you are saying.
  5. BE ENGAGING. You might spark our attention with humour, music, noise, clips, visuals, movement, etc.

WHAT SORT OF PRESENTATION CAN I DO?

We are giving you a lot of flexibility here. You may choose from the following options, all of which must respond to a given prompt:

  1. Persuasive speech.
  2. Informative speech.
  3. Monologue.
  4. Solo performance.
  5. Other- negotiate with your teacher.

HOW DO I PLAN THIS?

Begin with your prompt and unpack it in the same way you would have for an expository essay.

From there, try the following steps for each type of presentation:

PERSUASIVE SPEECH

  1. Form a clear opinion on the prompt.
  2. Brainstorm arguments and find pieces of evidence for each.
  3. Begin writing. Remember, this is for an audience so make sure you include prompts for body language or gestures.
  4. Formulate cue cards and/or visual prompts, props, etc.
  5. REHEARSE!

INFORMATIVE SPEECH

  1. Form a clear argument on the prompt, but make sure that it is unbiased an balanced.
  2. Brainstorm points and find pieces of evidence for each. As this is informative, try to be as factual as possible. Try utilising facts and statistics.
  3. Begin writing. Remember, this is for an audience so make sure you include prompts for body language or gestures.
  4. Formulate cue cards and/or visual prompts, props, etc.
  5. REHEARSE!

MONOLOGUE

  1. Formulate a clear argument/response to the prompt.
  2. Think of a character that you can play- why do they have an insight in to this topic? How do they relate to the topic? Why do they want to say something about the topic?
  3. Begin mapping out and writing their response to the prompt. A monologue is an insight in to someone’s innermost thoughts and feelings. What does your character think and feel in response to the topic? What personal examples or experiences will they share?
  4. REHEARSE. This is acting, so you will need to work on body language, tone, pitch, pace, pauses, costume, etc.

SOLO PERFORMANCE

  1. Formulate a clear argument/response to the prompt.
  2. Think of a scene that you can create that will allow you to explore the theme of identity and belonging. Within this scene, what will happen? What will your character(s) do?
  3. Begin mapping out and writing the events of the scene and the script. You can include sound effects, music, props, costume, etc.
  4. REHEARSE. This is acting, so you will need to work on body language, tone, pitch, pace, pauses, costume, etc.

Activity 1- Practice.

Create a 1-minute speech in response to the prompt below. You must practice this speech with a friend.

‘In order to be happy, we must belong.’

Activity 2- Oral Presentation Preparation and Practice.

You need to select one of the listed prompts and use as a stimulus for your own oral presentation. It only needs to be a draft and practice run.

The presentation must relate the to context of identity and belonging, and the text ‘Growing Up Asian In Australia’ in some way. To do this, you can draw on stories we have read.

You can use this draft later if you wish to develop it in to a formal presentation/performance.

Activity 2 must be submitted to your teacher.