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Teaching Guidelines

Distance Education Guidelines
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High School Drama Courses

High School Oral Comm Courses
Recommended Unit Areas
Argumentation
Communication Process
Group Discussion
Interpersonal Comm
Interviewing
Mass Communication
Oral Interpretation
Parliamentary Procedure
Public Speaking
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Class Activities
It Was A Dark and Stormy
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Impromptu Speaking
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Get The Point
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Library Treasure Hunt
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I Hear What You Are Saying
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Ring Up A Sale
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Four Corners
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Voice and Diction
ASCA Oral Comm Position Statement
Addendum

Arkansas Guidelines

Department of Education Curriculums
Theatre
Communication - One Semester
Communication - Full Year

Oral Communication Units and Activities

GET THE POINT

Unit(s): Public Speaking

Purpose:

The purpose of this activity is to introduce basic organization and outlining.

Objective:

The student will be able to write the general purpose, specific purpose, central idea, and main points for a speech.

The student will be able to arrange ideas into main points and subpoints.

Materials:

Handout "Get the Point"

Procedure:

Part I
Give each student a handout and discuss the three samples on page 1 of the handout.
On page 2, ask students to fill in the general purpose, specific purpose, and main points for the central ideas provided.
Part II
Ask students to reorganize the eight main points provided into two main points, each with four subpoints.
Part III
Ask students to arrange ideas into a standard outline.
Compare students' answers.


Get the Point

Part I

General Purpose:
To inform
Specific Purpose:
To inform my audience of the four stages in dealing with the death of a loved one.
Central Idea:
The four stages in dealing with the death of a loved one are denial, anger, depression, and acceptance.
Main Points:
  1. The first stage in dealing with the death of a loved one is denial.
  2. The second stage of dealing with the death of a loved one is anger.
  3. The third stage in dealing with the death of a loved one is depression.
  4. The fourth stage in dealing with the death of a loved one is acceptance.
General Purpose:
To persuade
Specific Purpose:
To persuade my audience that Elizabeth Porter should be elected to the legislature.
Central Idea:
Elizabeth Porter should be elected to the legislature because she will promote economic growth, reduce property taxes, and combat fraud in state government.
Main Points:
  1. Elizabeth Porter should be elected to the legislature because she will promote economic growth.
  2. Elizabeth Porter should be elected to the legislature because she will vote to reduce property taxes.
  3. Elizabeth Porter should be elected to the legislature because she will combat fraud in state government.
General Purpose:
To inform
Specific Purpose:
To inform my audience about the major achievements of Jane Addams.
Central Idea:
Jane Addams was a woman of many achievements as a social worker, a reformer, a suffragist, and a writer.
Main Points:
  1. As a social worker, Jane Addams founded the settlement house movement in Chicago.
  2. As a reformer, Jane Addams campaigned for compensation, and better public sanitation.
  3. As a suffragist, Jane Addams fought to give women the vote.
  4. As a writer, Jane Addams is best known for her autobiographical Twenty Years at Hull House.


Below are two central ideas for speeches. For each central idea provide the general purpose, specific purpose, and main points of the speech.

General Purpose:

Specific Purpose:

Central Idea:

The four stages of alcoholism are the warning stage, the danger stage, the crucial stage, and the chronic stage.

Main Points:

I.


II.


III.


IV.


General Purpose:

Specific Purpose:

Central Idea:

You should join a sorority or fraternity because of the social, academic, and economic benefits.

Main Points:

I.


II.


III.




Get the Point

Part II

Additional Exercises and Activities

Below is a speech outline with eight main points. Reorganize the outline so as to reduce the original eight main points to two main points, each with four subpoints. Use the new main points and subpoints to fill in the blank outline at the bottom of this page.

  1. The deficit in the federal budget could be lessened by cutting defense spending.
  2. The deficit in the federal budget could be lessened by raising income taxes.
  3. The deficit in the federal budget could be lessened by imposing a luxury tax on nonessential items.
  4. The deficit in the federal budget could be lessened by cutting welfare spending.
  5. The deficit in the federal budget could be lessened by cutting foreign aid.
  6. The deficit in the federal budget could be lessened by stricter enforcement of income tax collection.
  7. The deficit in the federal budget could be lessened by adding a tax surcharge for upper-income families.
  8. The deficit in the federal budget could be lessened by cutting aid to states and Cities.

I.

A .

B.

C.

D.

II.

A.

B.

C.

D.



Get The Point

Part III

First, take the following and rearrange them to form the usual three part outline with appropriate numbering and lettering sub-divisions. Then, put the number that is now in front of each item in the extreme left margin of your paper.

  1. Finally, sprinkle chopped onions, green papers, mushrooms,
      etc.
  2. Remove pizza from oven, slice and serve
  3. Pass out pieces of previously made pizza at very end
  4. Start by twirling pizza dough and playing Italian music
  5. Put dough in bowl and set aside to rise
  6. Spread sauce on rolled out dough
  7. Making sauce
  8. Conclusion
  9. Put pizza in 400 degree oven for 20 minutes
10. Body
11. Making dough
12. Combine dry ingredients
13. Place teaspoon of meat on sauce about an inch apart
14. Summarize main steps
15. Introduction
16. Putting pizza together.
17. Add egg and knead mixture into doughy consistency
18. Sprinkle grafted cheese over meat and sauce
19. Baking and serving
20. Roll out dough to desired thickness and possibly twirl
21. Main steps are making dough, making sauce, putting pizza
       together, baking and serving
22. Use tomato paste as start
23. Take dough from bowl and place on floured surface
24. Tell purpose is to explain how easy it is to make pizza
25. Add desired spices to tomato paste and simmer