CATA 101: Speech #1

Birth Date Speech

 

Time: 3 – 4 minutes

 

Description:  In this brief self-introduction, use something that happened on the day, week, or month of your birthday to reveal important information about yourself.

 

Assignment Objectives:

·        Research the periodicals section of the library

·        Identify an important personal characteristic or value.

·        Deliver the speech extemporaneously.

 

Guidelines:

1.      Go to the periodicals section of the library and find a newspaper or magazine published on your birthday (or birth week or month).  For instance, find a New York Times published on the exact date of your birth.  Or look at a Rolling Stone magazine published in your birth month.  Browse until you find an interesting article, advertisement, sports feature, movie review, television guide, etc.

2.      Use something from this article or feature to tell about one of your significant personal characteristics (discuss how something from this article pertains to you).

3.      Prepare a short speech that identifies your birth date, describes the contents of the article or feature, and explains the personal characteristic that made this article or feature significant to you.

4.      Write a complete sentence outline that includes an introductory statement, main points (body), and conclusion.

 

Examples:

 

The following are some basic ideas. For a complete outline of a sample speech, check out this link.

 

Margo found an advertisement that featured a woman stating, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”  She contrasted this slogan to her own views of gendered relationships.

 

Josh was born on the day that Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency.  He used this event to explain his interest in politics and his plans to go into law.

 

Other students have used sporting events, television programs, dance reviews, political news, merchandise prices, and so on to introduce themselves.

 

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