Family History Oral Presentation
As a culminating activity, you will present information on the relative you interviewed. The presentation is the place for you to include the information that wasn’t relevant in your essay comparing and contrasting adolescences, however you may include information from your essay as well. Be creative with what you share, and remember your audience when deciding topics! Select interesting information to share about your relative!
Requirements:
Written Speech
Note cards with speech outlined
Two visual aides
Presentation must be within the time frame of 4-5 minutes.
Writing a Speech
Writing a speech is much the same as writing a paragraph or an essay. You must write it in a clear, natural way so that your speech moves smoothly from one point to the next. Your information should be arranged into a beginning, middle, and an end. A speech is not exactly the same as other forms of writing, however. A speech is written to be heard rather than read. It must, therefore, sound good as well as look good on paper. It must be written using vivid, concrete words which create a clear, colorful picture for the audience. It must also be written with words that are lively rather than plod along. This means your speech must be written even more carefully than other writing assignments. Word choice, sentence fluency, and voice are more crucial than ever! The speech needs to be written out word for word.
Introduction
After you’ve collected enough information for your speech, arrange the details into an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Use one of your most interesting details for the opening.
Gain the attention of your audience with a hook! BE CREATIVE!
o
amazing facto
series of interesting questionso
humorous or thought-provoking anecdote (story)o
colorful illustration or visual aido
quoteo
short history of the topico
personal reason for picking the topico
"Imagine. . . "Make your presentation topic clear!
Get your audience to want to hear more about your topic.
Lead into the main part of your speech/presentation.
Examples:
"Everyone has heard someone say that they had to walk to school uphill both ways knee-deep snow. For my great-grandmother, this was true!"
"Athletic tape, duffel bags, sweat bands, high tops, tube socks, and mesh shorts, this sums up my grandfather’s adolescence."
"’I don’t like that person. I’m gonna have to get to know him better.’ My grandmother has lived by Abe Lincoln’s famous words. An outspoken woman, she hasn’t always gotten along with everybody she encounters."
Body
In the body of the speech, you should move smoothly (transition) from one point to the next.
You should cover the topic in an easy, natural way.
Use your own language (school appropriate, of course)--language which lets your audience feel like you’re talking to each one of them personally.
Try to include new information, as you can, to make your speech interesting.
When you are giving your opinion about something, make sure you support your point with enough reasons, facts, and other information to convince the audience.
Possible ideas to incorporate into body of speech:
Differences/Similarities from essay
Memorable world events from relative’s life
Family history of immigration, ancestors, etc.
Meaning of Surname (last name)
Description of family holidays or special traditions
Funny anecdote (story) about relative
Brief history of relative
Conclusion
Plan out exactly your final two or three sentences! Your ending is crucial! Do NOT say, "That’s it. Thanks for listening. That’s all. The end. That’s about it." You can have your conclusion written word for word, so make it a good one!
Leave your audience with something to think about.
End with a funny story that wraps up speech.
End with a thought provoking quote or question.
Reflect on how important this person is to you and what you learned from doing the interview.
Examples:
"I think it would be fun to experience a little bit of my great-grandmother’s life. The pace of life was much slower and simpler. Our lives aren’t so different really, but yet, they are vastly different."
"As one can see from my studies, my grandfather has achieved his goal that he set as a youth. My grandfather has achieved his goal and makes a living doing what he enjoys. What do you enjoy?"
"Think about what Abe Lincoln said. Is there someone you do not like that you need to get to know better? My grandma did and look what it did for her."
"I love my grandma very much and am grateful for the time we had together for this project. Do not forget about the elders in your family. You will be surprised to find that grandmothers too used to goggle over boys in class!"
Note Cards
You are required to use note cards for your presentation. Although you’ve written your speech word for word, you are not allowed to take it with you to the front of the room.
Index cards 3 ½ X 5 (You can buy 100 of them for $1 at any grocery or retail store. Consider sharing with a friend.)
Write on one side of the card only.
Number your cards in case you drop them.
Never run a sentence from one note card to another.
Never abbreviate unless you plan to "say" the abbreviation. For example, YMCA and FBI may be abbreviated because you will actually read each letter; A.M. and P.M. should not be used when you intend to say morning or afternoon.
Write big and clear, putting only a few words on each card
An outline only, with the exception of the introduction and conclusion
PRACTICE YOUR SPEECH USING THE NOTE CARDS!
Introduction: may be written out word for word on your index card. It’s important you have a strong introduction so clearly, in large print, write your introduction, exactly like you want to say it in class. Remember to be creative to grab your audience!
Body: is an outline only! Write large and clear key words only so you can quickly glance at the card to cue your next topic.
Conclusion: may be written out word for word on your index card. Your conclusion is just as important as your introduction, so make sure you spend a lot of time writing a creative ending that ties up your presentation. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT END WITH "THAT’S MY SPEECH. I’M DONE. THE END." Points will automatically be deducted for that significant error.
Examples Introduction:
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1 Everyone has heard someone say that they had to walk to school uphill both ways in knee-deep snow. For my great-grandmother this was true, except for the hill part; there aren’t any hills in North Dakota. My grandma once met death, and she’s even spent a night in jail. |
Body (words and phrases only, several notecards):
|
2 I. Birth II. places lived III. enjoyed horses and ice-skating IV. jail story V. Great Depression VI. WWII recollection VII. Her chores vs. mine |
Conclusion:
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3 I think it would be fun to experience a little bit of my great-grandmother’s life. The pace of life was much slower and simpler. Our lives aren’t so different, really, but yet they are vastly different. I’m glad I took the time to visit with my grandma. I encourage each of you to interview your other older relatives too, who knows what we may find out about them! |
Presenting Speech
Preparing for presentation
After you have finished writing your speech, practice giving your presentation (out loud) as often as you can.
Try to get an audience of family or friends to listen to you. They can help you get used to "speaking" and also offer suggestions for improvement.
Practice until you feel comfortable, or until you know your speech well enough to put the main points in your own words without looking at your note cards. (Practicing in front of a mirror or camcorder can also be helpful.)
Time yourself to make sure that the length of your speech fits into the time requirements!
Practice with your visual aids so you know exactly how you are going to incorporate them into the presentation! Know how you are going to hang them, or where you are going to place them.
Practice holding the microphone and your note cards by using a wooden spoon, or other similar object at home.
Giving your Presentation
If you have practiced often and well, giving the actual presentation should be easy. You may still feel a little nervous at first, but soon you will relax and enjoy sharing your speech with your audience. Keep the following suggestions in mind as you give your presentation:
Speak clearly. (Now that we have the microphone, you don’t have to worry about volume so much, so concentrate on enunciation and pronunciation.)
Don’t rush. Take your time and let your voice add color and interest to your topic.
Look at your ENTIRE audience.
Keep both feet firmly on the floor. Don’t slouch, sway or teeter.
Show enthusiasm for your topic from start to finish.
All presentations must incorporate two visual aids!
Make sure it is not an after thought, but truly is a vital entity in your presentation!
Visual must be large enough for ENTIRE class to see it.
Avoid passing any items around during presentation, wait until afterwards.
Anything self-created must be final draft quality.
Visuals should not be a distraction to audience.
Ideas (not an exhausted list, however):
Maps handicrafts
Drawings photographs
Letters postcards
Books gifts
Clothes poster
Food family antiques
Music poster board display
Art work item from childhood
Name: _______________________ Period___
Family History Presentation Grading Rubric
| Criteria: | Score: | Comments | |
| Note cards · Large print, with few words per card· Ideas only, not word for word, (except for introduction and conclusion) |
/5 |
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Visual aides · Two· Incorporated into speech· Relevant to speech· Large enough for entire audience to see easily· High quality (not a distraction) |
/5 |
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Introduction · Gains attention with a creative hook· Topic clear· Leads into speech |
/10 |
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| Body · Smooth transitions between topics; material well organized· Interesting facts and details |
/15 |
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Conclusion · Tied up loose ends or included personal statement or left audience with something to think about· Well prepared and thought out with NO random statements at end |
/10 |
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| Voice
· No gum· Proper English spoken· Effective inflection (not monotone) and pronunciation· Few distracters (uh, um, and, like) |
/5 |
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Non-Verbal Behavior ·1 Not rocking, swaying, or leaning on podium·2 Hands not fiddling in pockets |
/5 |
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| Eye
Contact · Frequent eye contact with audience, glancing at note cards to cue self only |
/5 |
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| Time:
4-5 minutes (10 points for each minute, up to 40 points. Ten points deducted for every minute over five.) |
0—10—20—30--40 | Time: __:__ | |
Total ____________________ / 100
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