Category: Platform

Developing an Idea for a (Platform) Speech – The “So What?” Factor

Posted on by Heather Neumann

If you have been to one of my camps or workshops, I sometimes have my own little ways of saying things- "a Heather Neumann-ism." ;) Needless to say, I have coined the phrase, "The So What? Factor." Students have ideas all the time for their speeches, but does their idea have the "so what?"  factor? What is the "so what? factor"? Can your idea go the distance? Here are some questions you can ask yourself when you are flushing out an idea for a speech to make sure it has "The So What Factor". Today, we will specifically be going through the so what factor with Platform Speeches and while there is overlap, in the next couple of weeks we will tackle the so what factor with Interps...

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2 Approaches to Platform Speeches (Workshop Tonight!)

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Which do you pick first? A platform speech category or a specific platform speech topic? Do you decide to write a persuasive and then look for the perfect persuasive topic or become passionate about a speech on baking long before you decide it’d make the perfect after dinner on household mishaps and management? Maybe you haven’t ever thought about this question, but it is an important step in the process of crafting an excellent platform speech. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, so how you choose to answer the question will shape the rhetoric of your speech, its momentum, and your own growth as a speaker. If you’ve decided that you want to invest in a platform speech this year, whether you have brainstormed ideas or not, this is the workshop that will help you take the next steps. We’ll review the basic categories of platform speeches and look at their goals. We’ll examine the reasoning behind choosing topics and choosing platform categories, giving special attention to the relationship between these two approaches. We’ll also spend time working through potential topics ideas you may have. Our goal is to make this workshop an energizing and interactive experience that deepens your understanding of how to craft excellent platform speeches. We hope to see you there!

For more info read on or CLICK HERE to sign up…

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The Thesis Statement by: Abbey Lovett

Posted on by Heather Neumann

What is the point of a thesis statement? Is it valuable? Here, in this article, Abbey Lovett (soon to be Kish), briefly explores the topic of the thesis statement for Speech and Debate. For more of Abbey’s awesome teaching- join her this Fall as she brings students on a deeper understanding of Impromptu,  through her – Lasting Impact! Online Impromptu Club. Sign up NOW! For more information, click here.

The Thesis Statement. Such an ominous and scary concept. Or at least that’s how I felt as a young communicator. In fact, I hardly ever used a thesis in my presentations because I couldn’t grasp the concept. What makes a good thesis statement? How do I make a thesis statement that fully grasps what I want to talk about? How do I present that statement in the speech?

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Platform Advice By: Michelle Reid

Posted on by Heather Neumann

We caught up with a pretty fantastic Speech and Debater... Michelle Reid saw much success in the world of Speech and Debate, and like most students who compete, go on to do great things! Competing in Speech and Debate was only the first step to what the Lord has in store for her! Here is part of her journey as well as advice...

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Tips on Verbal and Written Communication

Posted on by Heather Neumann

The wonderful people at www.theaccentcoach.com happened to stumble upon Lasting Impact! They wanted to offer our readers some tips on verbal and written communication for Speech and Debate students. Below is an article specifically designed for our readers, with some added touches by Heather.

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Oh, Those Verbal Citations!

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

You know you have to say it.  Out loud.  The sources of your information….

And it is good and proper that we DO give credit where credit is due as we are giving speeches that inform, inspire, persuade, instruct, and generally educate your audience.  In all fairness, one of the real academic benefits of preparing a platform speech is the research you learn how to do.  You garner information from a variety of sources, learn from it, process it, and integrate it into your own paper – a blend of your ideas and words with those you’ve learned along the way (which by the way totally shaped your ideas, you know!)

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Perspective on your Persuasive

Posted on by Heather Neumann

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Being persuasive is an art. When writing persuasively, it is important to explain your thoughts clearly and make sure you have your thoughts supported by facts. I believe that the Persuasive Speech category is one of the most difficult to master. Here are my reasons why, and what you can do to master this speech...

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Biographical Narrative – A Chance to Inspire

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

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Does anyone remember Paul Harvey and “…the rest of the story?”  For years Paul Harvey’s broadcast gave us a look at the inspiring accomplishments of ordinary people – who sometimes but not always turned out to be famous when we heard “the rest of the story.”  This was biographical narrative at its best!  Paul Harvey examined people.  He looked at their challenges and motivations, but mostly he showed us how they chose deliberately to rise above the many various obstacles they faced to be  doers of good deeds and to become men and women of real character, creativity, or accomplishment.

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Platform Speeches- Picking Your Topic

Posted on by Heather Neumann

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Spending some quality time researching and thinking about what you want to speak about is a pretty great idea. It's an important decision on your "Platform Journey". I actually keep an on-going list of ideas (and I'm not even a competitor). You should too! With phones that take notes and access to computers, jotting down a few ideas that you can explore when your ready to dive in, is pretty easy. This list doesn't start when the speech season starts... It's on-going.

There are so many fascinating subjects, people, events, etc. I honestly don't know if I was competing, if I would ever be able to choose?

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Preparing an Impromptu- or Any Written Speech (Part 4)

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

By: Kristi Eskelund

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STRATEGIES
There ARE things you can do at a tournament, before a round to help you have something to talk about in impromptu. The need is to have LOTS of bits and pieces brought forward to the front of your mind where they are ready for you to use them. Here are a few ways to do that:

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Preparing an Impromtu- or Any Written Speech (Part 2)

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

By: Kristi Eskelund

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CONTENT
Content deals with the WHAT of your piece. What is it about and what exactly are you saying about it? Are you expressing an opinion of your own? Are you refuting or agreeing with someone else’s opinion? Are you answering a question?

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Preparing an Impromptu- or Any Written Speech (Part 1)

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

By: Kristi Eskelund

imageWhen I was a student myself, I competed in a UIL event called Ready Writing. This essentially was an impromptu essay competition that required competitors to produce an essay on the spot after any given a prompt. It was judged on a number of factors including the articulateness of the response, the ability of the writer to allude to other sources, the use of stylistic devices, and of course, correct usage of grammar and spelling! Years, later, when the College Board added an essay component to the SAT exam, the parameters of that exam looked an awful lot like my old Ready Writing requirements, and at that time I began teaching workshops on how to write that essay for a maximum score. I realized in the process that most of my material actually crossed over into preparing for limited prep speeches as well! The main points I always hit on are developing your structure, content, and style and then getting a LOT of practice! After that, you can develop some real strategies.

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