Activities

Discussion Forum

Activity: Formulating Purpose Statements

Write a specific purpose statement for each of the following speeches:

1. An after-dinner speech at an awards banquet in which you will honor a team who has a winning, but not
championship, record. (You pick the team. For example: "After listening to my speech, my audience
members will appreciate the individual sacrifices made by the members of the chess team.")
2. A classroom speech in which you explain how to do something. (Again, you choose the topic: "After
listening to my speech, my audience members will know at least three ways to maximize their comfort and
convenience on an economy class flight.")
3. A campaign speech in which you support the candidate of your choice. (For example: "After listening to my
speech, my audience members will consider voting for Alexandra Rodman to clean up student
government.")

Answer the following questions about each of the purpose statements you make up: Is it result-oriented? Is it
precise? Is it attainable?

Activity: Formulating Thesis Statements

Turn each of the following purpose statements into a statement that expresses a possible thesis. For example, if
you had a purpose statement such as this:

After listening to my speech, my audience will recognize the primary advantages and disadvantages of
home teeth bleaching.
you might turn it into a thesis statement such as this:
Home bleaching your teeth can significantly improve your appearance, but watch out for injury to the
gums and damaged teeth.

1. At the end of my speech, the audience members will be willing to sign my petition supporting the local
needle exchange program for drug addicts.
2. After listening to my speech, the audience members will be able to list five disadvantages of tattoos.
3. During my speech on the trials and tribulations of writing a research paper, the audience members will
show their interest by paying attention and their amusement by occasionally laughing.

Activity: Types of Delivery

Identify at least one speech you have seen presented using the four types of delivery: extemporaneous,
impromptu, manuscript, or memorized. For this speech, decide whether the type of delivery was effective for the
topic, speaker, and situation. Explain why or why not. If the speech was not effective, suggest a more appropriate
type.

Activity: Rewrite the Fallacies

1. For each following item of self-talk, identify the type of fallacy it represents.
2. Then rewrite the statements to demonstrate more reasonable and rational ideas that a speaker could say
to himself or herself.

Fallacies

 Fallacy of approval
 Fallacy of catastrophic failure
 Fallacy of overgeneralization
 Fallacy of perfection

1. I just know I'll blow it. I'll likely start off bad and then never be able to get the delivery going. Irrational
fallacy:

Rewrite, using more rational thoughts:

 2. My visuals just aren't as good as Melissa's. The coloring isn't quite right, and one of my bar graphs is off-
center.

Irrational fallacy:

Rewrite, using more rational thoughts:

3. I'll probably get a dry mouth and turn red. It'll be obvious to everyone that I'm nervous and scared.

Irrational fallacy:

Rewrite, using more rational thoughts:

4. I always blow it when something is real important–like the time I used the wrong name when introducing
my boss.

Irrational fallacy:

Rewrite, using more rational thoughts:

5. Tim probably won't like the PowerPoint and Jose won't like some of the sources I cite.

Irrational fallacy:

Rewrite, using more rational thoughts:

6. Every time I get up in front of people I make a fool of myself. My ears always turn bright red.

Irrational fallacy:

Rewrite, using more rational thoughts:

7. I'll probably bomb this speech. Then I won't have enough points for a C. If I don't get a C, I'll flunk out of
school and never get an education.

Irrational fallacy:

Rewrite, using more rational thoughts:

8. I never say what I want to in front of others. I always blow these opportunities.

Irrational fallacy:

Rewrite, using more rational thoughts:

Activity: Identify Various Types of Introductory Techniques

1. Read each of the following introductory statements.

2. For each, identify the type of introductory technique being used.
3. Write the type of technique on the line. If you think the statement is a combination of two techniques,
write both on the line.

Techniques:

 Refer to the audience

 Cite a startling fact or opinion
 Refer to the relationship between audience and subject
 Ask a question
 Tell an anecdote
 Refer to something familiar to the audience
 Use a quotation
 Tell a joke
 1. If I was an American and you were an American audience, I would probably begin my speech with a joke.
If I were Japanese speaking to a Japanese audience, I would probably begin with an apology. Since I am
neither American nor Japanese, I will begin with an apology for not telling a joke.

— R. Moran

Introductory technique:

2. Today is a very special day in the lives of these young people seated before us. It is a day they will always
refer to as their graduation day.

Introductory technique:

3. William Butler Yeats said, "Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire." These words give us much
to ponder tonight as we debate the future of this educational institution.

Introductory technique:

4. Surveys show that the number one fear of Americans is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is
number two. That means that at a funeral, the average American would rather be in the casket than doing
the eulogy.

—Jerry Seinfeld

Introductory Technique:

5. As I begin my after-dinner speech tonight, I'd like to ask: How many of you know the fat content or
number of grams of fat in the meal we just ate together?

Introductory technique:

6. On September 11, 2001, the world mourned for the 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks on our
country. That same day, over 30,000 people died of preventable causes. These 30,000 people didn't have
twenty-four-hour television coverage to talk about the causes of their deaths. They weren't the subject of
statements by powerful political figures. Donors didn't spring into action to meet their needs. That day and
every day since, 30,000 children die of diseases for which we have vaccinations and hunger.

Introductory technique:

Activity: Auditory Aspects of Delivery

Instructions: Take something you have written—a paper, a speech, or a letter—and convert it into speaker's
notes. Write words that will jog your memory, reminding you of what you want to say. (You are trying to simulate
extemporaneous delivery.) It doesn't have to be long; a minute will do. Practice saying it aloud from your
speaker's notes a couple of times. Now, call yourself on your home phone or cell phone, but don't pick up! Deliver
your paper, speech, or letter into your voice mail. Hang up and listen to what you recorded. Analyze the volume:
Do you need to speak louder? The rate: Were you going too fast? The pitch: Is it rising and falling naturally? Are
you articulating your words?

Activity: Dealing with Anxiety

Look up an article on the Internet or in your college library on dealing with speech anxiety. For purposes of this
assignment, your article should be credible, but you can also look at "nontraditional" sources of information
regarding combating public speaking anxiety.

Write a summary of the article, citing its author and where you retrieved it from. Pretend you are writing a letter
to the author sharing your perceptions of his or her suggestions. Discuss whether you agree or disagree with the
recommendations given and how they would or would not help you.
 Public Speaking Activities

5 fun speech games to build skills and confidence

By: Susan Dugdale | Last modified: 04-22-2021

1. Interview Introductions

Interview Introductions are a great way to break the ice with a new group of people. The exercise has them
finding out about each other and then introducing the person they interviewed to the whole group.

As it's a lot less threatening or scary to talk about someone else rather than yourself, you'll find people
respond really positively as they're generally eager to represent the person they interviewed well.

Instructions

 Divide your group into pairs.

 Each person interviews the other in turn. The information gained forms the basis of a brief introduction
speech they'll give to the whole group when the interviewing process is complete.
 Ask them to find out their partner's name, where they live/work, what hobbies they have, what their
favorite book, film, song...is, what they're most proud of (an achievement perhaps), what they hope for
from the class, something funny that happened in their childhood, where they go for holidays, what they
think about the latest local issue ...
Obviously they can't expect to cover all of that in detail inside the brief time they spend talking with each
other. One or two interesting points is enough!
 Establish a time limit for the interviews. I've found 10 minutes works well. Keep track of the time and
call change at the halfway point, 5 minutes, to ensure both people get an opportunity to be interviewed
and to interview.
 When the group comes back together the introductions begin:
"This is Mary from Taupo. When she's not working for the Social Welfare Department as a community
social worker she's collecting stamps. She says part of their charm is that they don't answer back and
are quiet!"

2. Image Starters

Picture prompts or image starters are great for sparking  imaginative storytelling and conversations.

Either use my ready-made printable file of 40 picture prompts, (which you can find out more about by
clicking the link), or gather up a collection of your own to use.

You'll need interesting images/photos from magazines or newspapers - enough for everybody to have one
each and then a few spare.

Place them face down and have everybody pick one.

Using the image as a prompt, what can they share about it? 

Questions to get started are:

 Where is this photo/image from?

(And the answer doesn't have to be true - merely plausible! Encourage imaginative creativity.)
 What's happening in this photo/picture?
 What feelings does the image evoke?
 Is there a season or time associated with it?

3. For and Against

'For and Against' encourages flexibility: the ability to see a topic from opposing sides.
A speaker has 30 seconds to talk 'for' a topic and then another 30 seconds to speak 'against' it.
Prepare and print out a selection of controversial speech topics. You'll need one per person.
Put the topics into a non-see through bag. Have each speaker select their topic when it's their turn to
speak.
Ideally what's wanted is at least two or three good points supporting both sides: for and against.
Time the speech. Call start, the half way point and, stop.

Sample topics:

 money is the root of all evil

 a country gets the government it deserves
 'green' politics are just the current fashion
 pets in apartments should be banned
 marriage is essentially a business contract
 'Religion is the opiate of the masses' : Karl Marx
 poverty is a state of mind
 euthanasia is unjustifiable
 global warming is media hype
 cloning animals should be banned
 animal testing is immoral

For variation split your group into pairs and extend the time limit to 1 - 2 minutes. One person takes the
'for' position, and other takes the 'against'.  

4. The Object of my Affection

Gather up a collection of small objects, enough for one per speaker. For example: a vintage toy car, a can
of sardines, a hair ribbon, an old black and white photographic portrait, a pair of baby shoes .... 

Put all of them into a non-see through bag.

Each speaker puts their hand into the bag and pulls out an object. Whatever they get forms the basis of
their 1 - 2 minute speech.

Ideas to help the speakers get started:

 This ... {insert the name of whatever it is the speaker has in their hand} saved my life. It happened like
this...

 Whenever I see a ...{insert the name of whatever it is the speaker has in their hand} it reminds me of the
time I...

 I collect ...{insert the name of whatever it is the speaker has in their hand} and this one is the prize of my
collection. It used to belong to ...
5. Conducted Speech

This is a group public speaking activity. It is noisy, effective and outrageously good fun! 

Select a tongue twister from this page of diction exercises eg. "Sister Susie sat on the seashore sewing
shirts for soldiers".

Divide your class into groups of four. Three in each group will be the speakers and the fourth, the
conductor.

The speakers repeat the tongue twister responding to the conductor's direction. He/she can make them go
faster or slower, louder or quieter. The conductor could even decide to make it a round by staggering when
each person begins! 

The goal of the exercise is to practice articulation coupled with vocal variety ie. speech rate and volume.

It also teaches cooperation and focus, or concentration. Let your mind wander, and it's game over! You've
lost it, not only for yourself but your group as well.

Swap the conductor role around to give everybody a turn.

Once everybody is familiar with the activity, give the groups turns at demonstrating their prowess to the
whole class. They'll love seeing and hearing each other perform. ☺

If you liked these speech activities ...

Learning objectives:
Knowledge: Distinguish types of speech style and identify social situations in which each
speech style is appropriate to use
Skills: Create several short conversations or skits in which they act out all the different
types of speech styles in various situations;
Attitudes: Discuss the value of tactfulness in communication.

Resources needed:

a. DepEd K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum Senior High School Core Subject ( Oral
Communication in Context)
b. Essentials Introductory Linguistics
By: Grover Hudson .(2000) .pp. 471-475
c. https://core.ac.uk/download/files/379/11730428.pdf

Elements of the Plan

Methodology
Preparations
A. Preliminary Activities
1. Prayer
2. Checking of Attendance
B. Review
What did we discuss last meeting? What are the functions of communication?

C. Drill
To test whether you understood our lesson. We will have a short drill. I have here
sentence flashcards. Identify the function of communication depicted in each card.

1. I love you. You’re my only reason to stay alive if that’s what I am.
2. The outside world is a dangerous place, filled with horrible, selfish people.
3. The three main elements of public relations are practically as old as society.
4. Wake up every morning and tell yourself, “ I can do this.”
5. Listen to me. The human world is a mess.

Motivation/ Introductory Activity

Motivation
Class, I have here a photo of my new friend. Do you know her?
That’s right. This is Dora and she likes to visit Dumingag National High School.
She wishes to have an adventure in a highland. Do you like to go with her?
That’s fantastic. So you will accompany Dora and be her tour guide as she explores “
Dahilayan, Bukidnon”.
So You and Dora go to Dahilayan and while you are there you meet some people.
I want you to imagine what you or Dora says and how you say it as soon as you meet
each of them.

First you meet…(show a picture of Dora’s friend)

Do you know him? Who is he?
Wow you know him very well.
What do you think Dora will say as soon as they meet?
Awesome. How about you meet these two ladies. Who are they? (show picture of two
ladies)
What will you say to them?
How about the next person? (show a picture of the Principal)
Very Polite. How about the next. Who can tell me who the person is.
What will you say?
That’s amazing. You address him politely using his rank title.
Great. What have you observed with the utterances you have just made?
How about the style or manner of your speech?
Have you spoken to the above people in the same style or way?
Most importantly how did you say it?
How about your formality as you talk to them?
That’s perfectly answered. You are right. Your styles and the degree of formality vary
depending on the persons to whom you are talking to.

Presentation

Defining Terms
Analyzing Dialogue-(Inductive questioning)
Activity

Defining terms

Before we will discuss the types of speech styles, let us first unlock the word style. What
comes to your mind if you hear the word style?
You are all correct.
To sum up, style is a particular manner or way of behaving, doing, creating or performing
a thing.
How about speech style. What is your idea of it?
Excellently uttered.
Let’s have a uniform definition of speech style. Everybody read.
Speech style is the form of language that a speaker uses and it is characterized by the
degree of formality.
This implies that the language used by speakers varies based on given situations or
settings and the persons involved.

Analyzing dialogue excerpts

Alright class, I have here dialogue excerpts. Please identify the situation or setting and the
speakers that each excerpt represents.
I will call two volunteers to read each excerpt.

A. Eduardo, do you accept Amor as your lawful wife?

Yes, I do.

B. Good morning. Please take a seat, Your Holiness, Pope Francis.

Thank you, Mr. President.

C. Good Morning, Doctor, may I ask you a question?

Certainly, how can I help you?

D. Hi Maricel, What’s up? How’s your life?

I’m great, Wilma.

E. Hello honey, how was your day? Great. We got a lot done, Hon. And yours?

Analysis

Thank you. Now let’s go over the excerpts again and analyze the language used in the
given situations.

Let’s start with the first.

Who are the people talking in the dialogue?
Certainly. What do you think is the situation?
What have you noticed with the speech used? How about the language used?
Very good. The vow of marriage has been the same in the past until the present. The
language has a pattern and it is frozen or cannot be changed.
Let’s proceed to the second excerpt. Who are the speakers? Are they in high rank
positions?
What can you say about the formality of the language?
Correct. How about their manner of speaking? How about the way they address each
other?
Excellent answers.
What do you sense as to their relationship? Are they close or not?
When do you think this style is most appropriately used?
Well said. So how do you call the speech style employed in the second utterances?

We will come now to the third excerpt. Please tell the class who the speakers are.
Great. What do you think is the purpose of the patient?
Wonderful. There might be an important matter she needs to know.
Do you think the doctor is the right person to consult to?
Magnificent answer.

Please read the fourth excerpt.

Who are conversing in the dialogue?
Definitely. How do you know they are friends?
I’m impressed. How about the language used?
You are the best. What style is employed?
Correct. Since friends have casual relationship they should also use ordinary or casual
language

Kindly read the last excerpt.

Whose lines are in the dialogue?
How do you know that they are so?
That’s amazing. How do you describe the language used?
You’re the best. When is this style of speech used?
Exactly. So what speech style is utilized in this example?

Abstraction

If the first set of dialogue excerpt has the language which is patterned and it is frozen or
cannot be changed. What do you think is the speech style used in the excerpt?
If the second excerpt showed a formal used of a language, so how do you call the speech
style employed in the second utterances?

If the third excerpt showed a scenario of a patient consulting to a doctor, so what speech
style is employed in the dialogue?

If the fourth dialogue excerpt showed two friends having a casual conversation, what
style is employed?

If the fifth excerpt showed intimacy in their conversation, what do you think is the speech
style used in the excerpt?

What are again the five types of speech styles?

How does each style differ?

Perfect. Why should we vary our language styles?

Practice

-Performing a Play
-Answering Practice Exercises
 Writing and Performing dialogues
Application
This time I will divide you into 8 groups. Let’s have differentiated activities. We
will call this activity, “ It’s Showtime”.

“ It’s Showtime”.
Mechanics :

1. Each group will be assigned to a certain situation.

2. Be able to present it creatively using the appropriate speech styles.
3. You are given 5 minutes to practice and 2 minutes to present.
4. Each member of the group shall have a role to play and speech lines to utter.
Rubrics:
Appropriate style and language used - 5 points
Grammar- 5 points
Delivery - 5 points Creativity / Interpretation - 5 points Teamwork - 5 points Total -
25 points

• Developmental Activity
For me to find out whether you understood our lesson, let’s have an activity entitled, “
Identify Me”.

“ Identify Me”

Directions: Identify the speech style appropriate to use in the social situation shown in the
given photos.

1. Between childhood best friends

Source

2. Between a priest and parishioners (Mass)

 Source

3. Between fiancés

Source
4. Between an employer and an applicant

Source

5. Between couple

Source

6. Between Senator and President

 Source

7. Between a pediatrician and a baby’s mother

Source

8. Between groom and bride exchanging vows in marriage ceremony

 Source

9. Between a student and a teacher

Source
1. Between teammates
 Source

1.Intimate

2.Casual

3.Intimate

4.Formal

5.Casual

6.Formal

7.Consultative

8.Frozen

9.Consultative

10.Casual

Let’s Make and Play”

Mechanics:
 1. Pair with someone and create just a two sentence conversations or skits.
2. Act out the different types of speech styles in various situations shown in the
photos in activity “Identify Me”.
3. Present it to the class.
4.

Criteria:
Appropriate style and language used - 5 points
Grammar - 5 points
Delivery - 5 points
15 points

Values Integration

Alright class. I am happy that you were able to make your conversation skits correctly.
You were able to use appropriately speech styles in a certain situation.
This means that you know what to say and when to say things.

Do you think you should always be tactful or careful on what you will say? Why?
Perfect. Another.
Bravo. Your values are truly developed.
We must not be tactless but we must be tactful or we must say the right word, to the right
person at the right place so that we could not hurt other people.

Assessment

A. Paper Pencil Test

For our paper pencil test, answer this very short test. Please get ¼ sheet of paper.

Directions: Choose the best statement based on the situation.

1. Company director to employee

a. I need to talk to you.
• b. Ms. Brown, could you come here for a moment?
c. Hey, get over here. Jane,
2. One colleague to another
• a. Excuse me, do you think you could possibly give me a hand?
b. Give me a hand.
• c. Excuse me, could you give me a hand?
• 3. Stranger to a man in the street
• a. Could you tell me the time, please?
 • b. The time, please.
• c. Hello there, how are you?
3. Waiter to customer
• a. What do you want?
• b. What would you like today?
• c. Do you think you could possibly tell me what you would like to eat today?
4. Employee to department manager
• a. Mr. Brown, could I have a word with you this afternoon?
• b. Frank, I need to talk to you.
• c. Mr. Brown, do you think it would be possible for me to speak with you this
afternoon?
5. Husband to wife
• a. How do you do?
• b. What's up?
• c. Excuse me dear, I was wondering how you were feeling.
6. Teacher to student
• a. Do exercise 1, now!
• b. Please do exercise 1.
• c. Would you mind doing exercise 1?
7. Brother to sister
• a. Hurry up!
• b. Pardon me, can you please get ready?
• c. Shall we go my dear?
8. Company director to employee
• a. Ms. Smith, you look fantastic today!
• b. Jane, you are a knock out!
• c. How are you today Ms. Smith?
9. Customer to receptionist
• a. Give me my bill.
• b. The bill, please
• c. I was wondering if I could trouble you for the bill.

Assignment

“Watch and Write”

Mechanics:

1. Watch your favorite primetime “teleserye” or talk show tonight.

2. Choose a certain situation or part that you consider interesting.
3. Write the dialogue exchanges of the two persons.
4. Limit your dialogue to 4-6 lines.
5. Consider the types of speech styles that are most appropriate to the chosen
situation.
6. Practice delivering your dialogue as you will interpretatively read it next meeting.
Criteria:
Content - 5 points
Appropriate style and language used - 5 points
Grammar - 5 points Delivery - 5 points Total - 20 points

Direction: Identify the speech style

used in each situation. Write the
correct
answer on your answer sheet.
1. Counsellor and client
2. Letter for friends
3. Announcements
4. The Lord’s prayer
5. Inquiring a hotel
6. Talking to siblings
7. Reading a court order
8. Exchange of wedding vows
9. Teenager and mother
10. A suitor to his lover