Exercise One: Exploring a topic

When looking for a topic, cause, or issue to discuss, ask yourself the following questions.  You may consider brainstorming in any one (or more) of these areas.  This is a place for you to write down the ideas that you are thinking about.

Name__________________

• What is important to me?

• What excites me?

• What makes me happy?

• What makes me angry?

• Do I have a good idea that others might embrace?

• Is there an issue that ‘speaks’ to me?

• Can I make a change?

• Have I experienced something inspiring or life-changing that I can share with others?

Exercise Two: Exploring your cause

In order to become an advocate, or to persuade your audience, you may wish to consider learning as much as you can about your topic.  This worksheet will help you to create a broader picture of your issue so that you will be able to advocate effectively for your cause.  You may wish to use.edit this worksheet multiple times as you develop your presentation.

Name ________________________________

1)      What do you want to talk about?

2)      Why is this issue important to you?

3)      Where can you find information about this cause?

4)      Why is this issue so important?

5)      What do you want the audience to feel/see/do after listening to your presentation?

6)      If someone disagrees with you, how might this person react to your presentation?

7)      How can you respond to an individual who disagrees with your perspective?

Exercise Three: Telling your story

A successful advocate might have a story to tell.  Telling your story will help to make a connection between you and your listeners.  This story may be told at the beginning of your presentation to capture the attention of the audience.  The length will be based on the time allotted for your presentation.  Develop your story using the questions below.  You may consider revisiting this exercise once you have gathered some research on your topic.

Name_____________________________

Your topic: _________________________________

What type of story will you tell?  Will it be a personal story?  A hypothetical example? A story about someone you have read about?

What kind of impact would you like your story to have on others?  (How do you want your audience to feel after hearing your story?)

What specific words, phrases, or images will you include when telling your story?

Consider writing the draft of your story here:

Exercise Four: Starting your research

In order to gain credibility with an audience, it is important to share relevant and well-organized material with them. Your professor may have a requirement for the number of references in your presentation.  You may find it helpful to develop a separate sheet for each reference.

Your name:                                                              Your topic:

Part One: Find an article

1. Visit the BMCC Library website.
2. Click on the Academic Search Complete Database.
3. Search for a word (from class discussion).
4. Choose an article. Read it.

Part Two: Write about what you found (See instructor for instructions for online courses)

1. Type the citation into a Word Document. (Contact instructor if help is needed.)
2. Write a sentence to share some of the information from the article with us. (Oral Citation)
3. Write a few sentences about the process of finding the article and citing it properly.

Part Three: Tell us what you found (See instructor for instructions for online courses.)

1. Bring your document to class.  The professor may divide students into small groups to give students an opportunity to discuss the articles and citations before sharing them with the class.
2. Read your oral citation out loud to the class.
3. Tell the class about the process of finding the article.

Exercise Five: Give us the details!

This worksheet will aid you in unpacking the news articles, academic articles, or any other material you have found so that it can be used in a presentation.  Consider using this worksheet for each article that you are preparing.

APA or MLA Citation of the article:

Summarize the article:

Provide feedback on this article. Do you agree/disagree with the author? What questions might you have for the author?

Write an oral citation that you might use for your presentation.  Is there an interesting statistic or quote that you will share with the audience? Write it here with a proper oral citation.  An oral citation is a way for the audience to know where you have gathered your date by providing them with a spoken citation.  This may be something like, “According to a 2021 article written by (Author’s name) in the (Name of Journal), (add a number) percentage of students that major in (name of major) receive a grade of (enter grade) in class (name of class).”

What image might you use to accompany your oral citation? How will this image help to support your cause and relay your message to the audience?

Exercise Six: Putting it all together!

This template follows the format located in the chapter.  It is blank so that you can use it to create the outline for your own presentation.

Introduction

• Attention Getter
• Why should we listen
• Thesis
• Preview of main points
• Main Point One
• Main Point Two
• Main Point Three

Transition

Body

• Main Point One
  • Transition
• Main Point Two
  • Transition
• Main Point Three

Transition

Conclusion

• Thesis
• Review of main points
• Main Point One
• Main Point Two
• Main Point Three
• Power Punch Ending
• References (Include one reference within each main point)

Reference One:

Citation:

Summary of Article:

Reference Two:

Citation:

Summary of Article:

Reference Three:

Citation:

Summary of Article:

Exercise Seven: Timing and practice

Your instructor will give you a time limit for your speech.  Delivering the speech within that time frame shows that you have prepared and practiced your content effectively.

Practice your speech out loud. Consider recording yourself or practicing in front of a mirror or other individual if you would like.

Use the following worksheet to reflect on your timing and the improvements that can be made after each practice round.  You may also consider asking a classmate, friend, family member, or other individual to listen to your speech and provide feedback to you.

First Practice

Minutes_____________

Comments.  Include positive elements as well as changes or corrections to be made.

Second Practice

Total Minutes_____________

Comments.  Include positive elements as well as changes or corrections to be made.

Third Practice

Total Minutes_____________

Comments.  Include positive elements as well as changes or corrections to be made.