Speech Class Exercise

In the speech class I teach, the first presentation the students do is an "X>Y presentation," in which they compare one person, place, or thing to another and take a qualitative stand favoring one over the other. Since this is a very short speech (3-4 minutes), the content needs to be light and fluffy--something that everyone in the audience can recognize. Therefore, we turn to mainstream popular culture. I've assigned some reading in the textbook on planning speeches and transforming ideas into speech points, which entails some brainstorming, idea mapping, and outlining. Tomorrow in class I'm going to try out this exercise, which I thought of sometime during The Apprentice. I'm going to put the students into their peer groups and give them a selection of five topics. They will have to use the planning techniques in the reading to compose an X>Y speech on the topic, present the speech, and describe their planning process.

Topics for Group 1:

Angelina Jolie/Julia Roberts

Jack Black/Ben Stiller

coffee/tea

Ashanti/Beyonce'

Vikings/Packers

Topics for Group 2:

Tylenol/Advil

Tom Cruise/Russell Crowe

Who's more annoying: Paris Hilton or Jessica Simpson?

Snickers bar/3 Musketeers

chocolate/vanilla

Topics for Group 3:

Jennifer Lopez/Jennifer Aniston

50 Cent/Eminem

Who's more annoying: Ben Affleck and J.Lo or Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey?

That 70s Show/Will & Grace

hamburgers/hot dogs

Topics for Group 4:

Alka-Seltzer/Pepto-Bismol

Matt Damon/Ben Affleck

The White Stripes/Radiohead

New Year's Eve/Valentine's Day

Cher/Madonna

I hope it goes well...I'll reflect on it and recommend it if it seems worthwhile.