Communication analysis, summarizing and evaluating

Reading Time: < 1 minute

  1. Speech Goal: What is the goal of the speech? What does the speaker want the listener to do?
  2. Speech Organization: What is the overall organizational structure of the message?
  3. Speakers Role: What kind of relationship has the speaker established with the audience? Does he or she speak from a position of power? As an equal? How does
  4. this role established by the speaker influence the speech’s effectiveness?
  5. Speaker’s Tone: What is the overall tone, or “feel,” of the message? How does the speaker use supporting material and delivery clues to establish an overall tone of speech?
  6. Speakers Techniques: What does the speaker do to establish credibility? Does the speaker use logical arguments, tell effective and interesting stories, use emotional appeals, and use interesting and precise language?
  7. Audience: Who is the intended audience? How effectively and appropriate does the speaker connect to the interest, needs and background of the audience? How does the speaker make the connection with the audience?
  8. What was your favorite aspect of the speech, and why?
  9. Why is this activity relevant?

Context:Analyze one of the following speeches using the instructions above:

Sean Combs 2014 Howard Commencement Speech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTa7Bl_eUt8

Barack Obama: ‘A More Perfect Union’:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo

Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhg6LxyTnY8

Harry Belafonte: NAACP Image Awards Acceptance Speech on Gun Control

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-ZRo5ws44I

President Obama Delivers Eulogy at Charleston Shooting Funeral of Clementa Pinckney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK7tYOVd0Hs

Jesse Williams BET Humanitarian Award Speech

https://youtu.be/orXogk3euMA