EL 109

SPEECH AND THEATRE

FINAL MODULE

EDLYN MAE C. SARMIENTO, MAEd

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INSTRUCTION:
 You must participate actively during class discussions/recitations.
 You must pass all the other requirements of the course.
 Make sure to incur a passing mark in every quizzes set by the teacher

OVERVIEW:
The course examines the process of oral communications and the various forms of speech
arts from public speaking and group discussions to debate, oral interpretation and
dramatics.

OBJECTIVES:
 Demonstrate understanding of the social and artistic movements that have shaped theatre and
dance as we know it today.
 Apply discipline-specific skills to the creation of performance.
 Determine the best speaking style for different types of speaking occasions
 Identify and utilize voice aspects of speaking
 Recognize and utilize the key “ingredients” of a well-performed speech
 Plan the speech in preparation for delivery/performance of a speech.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
DISCUSSION 1: Impromptu Speech
DISCUSSION 2: Patterns of Organizing an Impromptu Speech
DISCUSSION 3: Delivering Functional Speeches
DISCUSSION 4: Definition of Theatre and History of Theatre

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DISCUSSION 1
Impromptu Speech
An impromptu speech is given with little or no preparation, yet almost always with some
advance knowledge on the topic. When called to speak "off the cuff" on the "spur of the
moment," is is usually because the speaker is quite knowledgeable about the subject. For
example, if called on to speak in class, a student might give a short impromptu speech about
a topic that was in the assigned readings. Business meetings also use a "check in" to tell
everyone else about a current project. In small informal meetings, the audience will
interrupt an impromptu speech and ask questions, which helps guide the speech and the
information that is presented. When campaigning, politicians sometimes respond to
reporters or voters almost anywhere and at any time.

Advantages

Remember that you are generally in control of the content you are presenting, so you can
include topics that you want to talk about. Additionally, you can use personal examples from
experience to support what you are saying. Since you are an authority on the topic, you
want to speak with conviction like you really mean it. Your delivery will naturally be more
conversational and spontaneous. Since you are not prepared with pages of notes, you are
more likely to speak directly to the audience just like if you were speaking to another person
in a conversation.

Disadvantages

Since you are not well-prepared, you may have difficulty thinking of what to say or
formulating the ideas once you get up to speak. Although you are familiar with the topic,
your speech may lack details and supporting information. If the audience is passive and does
not ask questions to guide you, you may overlook some significant content. Hopefully,
someone in the audience will ask questions so you can fill in gaps. Additionally, impromptu
speaking is rarely appropriate for occasions which require more reasoned discourse with
supporting ideas or more formal events.

Myths of Impromptu Speaking

Impromptu speaking, as a challenge, is not limited only to the academically-backward. On

Given a topic, we find ourselves with no option other than to stare at the roof, indicating
that we are thinking of the topic when the truth is that our mind is devoid of any idea at
that moment whatsoever.

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Declamation contests, debates, and group discussions are some situations where we fail to
come up with instant ideas on a topic. Due to this issue, most of us fail to make a mark on
the panelists and hence, our chances of getting selected to a B-school or landing a job of
our choice becomes difficult. Even though we are equipped with adequate technical
knowledge, we fail to grab the opportunity because during the group discussion, debate or
declamation contests, we fail to put appropriate words to our thoughts in short notice.

Speaking in Front of an Audience

What was the last time you had gone up to the podium to speak on a topic and you
suffered from a choked throat, sweating forehead, and palpitating heart? If you have
suffered this at least once in the last few months, then you need to know that it is not rare
for even veteran speakers to face a black-out, when they are asked to speak impromptu on
a topic for mere 2 minutes.

Identifying Areas of Improvement

Someone who uses too many slogans and catchy statements is not certainly a good
speaker. If the audience has nothing – like a word, a phrase or personal quote – to
remember at the end of the speech, then the speaker has failed. Hence, it is imperative
that a speaker allows the audience to return with some takeaway from the speech. If that
happens, then the speech – irrespective of the vocabulary, idioms, and proverbs – will be
successful.

To help a person speak, we encourage him or her to speak in front of a crowd and shed
their glossophobia. That, indeed, helps them to get rid of their stage-fright. But dropping
this fear is not enough to make someone a great speaker. A speaker may have style,
elegance and panache with delivery, but if the content is weak, then the audience won’t
have any key takeaway. If your listeners don’t have anything to take back from your
speech, then your minutes of speech have been futile. Hence, the content of your speech is
really vital and has to be of good quality.

REFERENCES:
https://lumen.instructure.com/courses/218897/pages/linkedtext54267?module_item_id=5007135
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/impromptu_speaking/impromptu_speaking_quick_guide.htm

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DISCUSSSION 2
This section is going to provide you with a number of organization patterns to help you create a logically
organized speech. The first organization pattern we’ll discuss is categorical/topical.

Categorical/Topical

By far the most common pattern for organizing a speech is by categories or topics. The
categories function as a way to help the speaker organize the message in a consistent
fashion. The goal of a categorical/topical speech pattern is to create categories (or chunks)
of information that go together to help support your original specific purpose. Let’s look at
an example.

Specific Purpose To persuade a group of high school juniors to apply to attend Generic University

I. Life in the dorms

Main Points II. Life in the classroom

III. Life on campus

In this case, we have a speaker trying to persuade a group of high school juniors to apply to
attend Generic University. To persuade this group, the speaker has divided the information
into three basic categories: what it’s like to live in the dorms, what classes are like, and what
life is like on campus. Almost anyone could take this basic speech and specifically tailor the
speech to fit her or his own university or college. The main points in this example could be
rearranged and the organizational pattern would still be effective because there is no
inherent logic to the sequence of points. Let’s look at a second example.

Specific To inform a group of college students about the uses and misuses of Internet
Purpose dating

I. Define and describe Internet dating.

Main Points II. Explain some strategies to enhance your Internet dating experience.

III. List some warning signs to look for in potential online dates.

In this speech, the speaker is talking about how to find others online and date them.
Specifically, the speaker starts by explaining what Internet dating is; then the speaker talks
about how to make Internet dating better for her or his audience members; and finally, the
speaker ends by discussing some negative aspects of Internet dating. Again, notice that the
information is chunked into three categories or topics and that the second and third could
be reversed and still provide a logical structure for your speech

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Comparison/Contrast

Another method for organizing main points is the comparison/contrast speech pattern.
While this pattern clearly lends itself easily to two main points, you can also create a third
point by giving basic information about what is being compared and what is being
contrasted. Let’s look at two examples; the first one will be a two-point example and the
second a three-point example.

Specific To inform a group of physicians about Drug X, a newer drug with similar
Purpose applications to Drug Y

I. Show how Drug X and Drug Y are similar.

Specific To inform a group of physicians about Drug X, a newer drug with similar
Purpose applications to Drug Y

I. Explain the basic purpose and use of both Drug X and Drug Y.

Main Points II. Show how Drug X and Drug Y are similar.

III. Show how Drug X and Drug Y differ.

If you were using the comparison/contrast pattern for persuasive purposes, in the preceding
examples, you’d want to make sure that when you show how Drug X and Drug Y differ, you
clearly state why Drug X is clearly the better choice for physicians to adopt. In essence,
you’d want to make sure that when you compare the two drugs, you show that Drug X has
all the benefits of Drug Y, but when you contrast the two drugs, you show how Drug X is
superior to Drug Y in some way.

Spatial

The spatial speech pattern organizes information according to how things fit together in
physical space. This pattern is best used when your main points are oriented to different
locations that can exist independently. The basic reason to choose this format is to show
that the main points have clear locations. We’ll look at two examples here, one involving
physical geography and one involving a different spatial order.

Specific To inform a group of history students about the states that seceded from the United
Purpose States during the Civil War

Main Points I. Locate and describe the Confederate states just below the Mason-Dixon Line
(Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee).

II. Locate and describe the Confederate states in the deep South (South Carolina,

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 Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida).

III. Locate and describe the western Confederate states (Louisiana, Arkansas, and
Texas).

If you look at a basic map of the United States, you’ll notice that these groupings of states
were created because of their geographic location to one another. In essence, the states
create three spatial territories to explain.

Now let’s look at a spatial speech unrelated to geography.

Specific Purpose To explain to a group of college biology students how the urinary system works

I. Locate and describe the kidneys and ureters.

Main Points II. Locate and describe the bladder.

III. Locate and describe the sphincter and urethra.

In this example, we still have three basic spatial areas. If you look at a model of the urinary
system, the first step is the kidney, which then takes waste through the ureters to the
bladder, which then relies on the sphincter muscle to excrete waste through the urethra. All
we’ve done in this example is create a spatial speech order for discussing how waste is
removed from the human body through the urinary system. It is spatial because the
organization pattern is determined by the physical location of each body part in relation to
the others discussed.

Chronological

The chronological speech pattern places the main idea in the time order in which items
appear—whether backward or forward. Here’s a simple example.

Specific
To inform my audience about the books written by Winston Churchill
Purpose

I. Examine the style and content of Winston Churchill’s writings prior to World War
II.

II. Examine the style and content of Winston Churchill’s writings during World War
Main Points
II.

III. Examine the style and content of Winston Churchill’s writings after World War
II.

In this example, we’re looking at the writings of Winston Churchill in relation to World War
II (before, during, and after). By placing his writings into these three categories, we develop

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a system for understanding this material based on Churchill’s own life. Note that you could
also use reverse chronological order and start with Churchill’s writings after World War II,
progressing backward to his earliest writings.

Biographical

As you might guess, the biographical speech pattern is generally used when a speaker wants
to describe a person’s life—either a speaker’s own life, the life of someone they know
personally, or the life of a famous person. By the nature of this speech organizational
pattern, these speeches tend to be informative or entertaining; they are usually not
persuasive. Let’s look at an example.

Specific
To inform my audience about the early life of Marilyn Manson
Purpose

I. Describe Brian Hugh Warner’s early life and the beginning of his feud with
Christianity.
Main Points
II. Describe Warner’s stint as a music journalist in Florida.

III. Describe Warner’s decision to create Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids.

In this example, we see how Brian Warner, through three major periods of his life,
ultimately became the musician known as Marilyn Manson.

In this example, these three stages are presented in chronological order, but the
biographical pattern does not have to be chronological. For example, it could compare and
contrast different periods of the subject’s life, or it could focus topically on the subject’s
different accomplishments.

Causal

The causal speech pattern is used to explain cause-and-effect relationships. When you use a
causal speech pattern, your speech will have two basic main points: cause and effect. In the
first main point, typically you will talk about the causes of a phenomenon, and in the second
main point you will then show how the causes lead to either a specific effect or a small set
of effects. Let’s look at an example.

Specific To inform my audience about the problems associated with drinking among members
Purpose of Native American tribal groups

Main Points I. Explain the history and prevalence of drinking alcohol among Native Americans.

II. Explain the effects that abuse of alcohol has on Native Americans and how this

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 differs from the experience of other populations.
In this case, the first main point is about the history and prevalence of drinking alcohol
among Native Americans (the cause). The second point then examines the effects of Native
American alcohol consumption and how it differs from other population groups.

However, a causal organizational pattern can also begin with an effect and then explore one
or more causes. In the following example, the effect is the number of arrests for domestic
violence.

Specific
To inform local voters about the problem of domestic violence in our city
Purpose

I. Explain that there are significantly more arrests for domestic violence in our city
than in cities of comparable size in our state.
Main Points
II. List possible causes for the difference, which may be unrelated to the actual
amount of domestic violence.

In this example, the possible causes for the difference might include stricter law
enforcement, greater likelihood of neighbors reporting an incident, and police training that
emphasizes arrests as opposed to other outcomes. Examining these possible causes may
suggest that despite the arrest statistic, the actual number of domestic violence incidents in
your city may not be greater than in other cities of similar size.

Problem-Cause-Solution

Another format for organizing distinct main points in a clear manner is the problem-cause-
solution speech pattern. In this format you describe a problem, identify what you believe is
causing the problem, and then recommend a solution to correct the problem.

Specific To persuade a civic group to support a citywide curfew for individuals under the age
Purpose of eighteen

I. Demonstrate that vandalism and violence among youth is having a negative effect
on our community.

II. Show how vandalism and violence among youth go up after 10:00 p.m. in our
Main Points
community.

III. Explain how instituting a mandatory curfew at 10:00 p.m. would reduce vandalism
and violence within our community.

In this speech, the speaker wants to persuade people to pass a new curfew for people under
eighteen. To help persuade the civic group members, the speaker first shows that vandalism

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and violence are problems in the community. Once the speaker has shown the problem, the
speaker then explains to the audience that the cause of this problem is youth outside after
10:00 p.m. Lastly, the speaker provides the mandatory 10:00 p.m. curfew as a solution to
the vandalism and violence problem within the community. The problem-cause-solution
format for speeches generally lends itself to persuasive topics because the speaker is asking
an audience to believe in and adopt a specific solution.

Psychological

A further way to organize your main ideas within a speech is through a psychological speech
pattern in which “a” leads to “b” and “b” leads to “c.” This speech format is designed to
follow a logical argument, so this format lends itself to persuasive speeches very easily. Let’s
look at an example.

Specific Purpose To persuade a group of nurses to use humor in healing the person

I. How laughing affects the body

Main Points II. How the bodily effects can help healing

III. Strategies for using humor in healing

In this speech, the speaker starts by discussing how humor affects the body. If a patient is
exposed to humor (a), then the patient’s body actually physiologically responds in ways that
help healing (b—e.g., reduces stress, decreases blood pressure, bolsters one’s immune
system, etc.). Because of these benefits, nurses should engage in humor use that helps with
healing (c).

Selecting an Organizational Pattern

Each of the preceding organizational patterns is potentially useful for organizing the main
points of your speech. However, not all organizational patterns work for all speeches. For
example, as we mentioned earlier, the biographical pattern is useful when you are telling
the story of someone’s life. Some other patterns, particularly comparison/contrast,
problem-cause-solution, and psychological, are well suited for persuasive speaking. Your
challenge is to choose the best pattern for the particular speech you are giving.

You will want to be aware that it is also possible to combine two or more organizational
patterns to meet the goals of a specific speech. For example, you might wish to discuss a
problem and then compare/contrast several different possible solutions for the audience.
Such a speech would thus be combining elements of the comparison/contrast and problem-
cause-solution patterns. When considering which organizational pattern to use, you need to

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keep in mind your specific purpose as well as your audience and the actual speech material
itself to decide which pattern you think will work best.

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