This popular speech class is not a typical public speaking class. While students will learn how to calm their fears, organize their thoughts and connect with an audience, they will also read and study nearly 40 speeches of great orators, critically watch portions of a few speeches, and ‘read aloud’ sections of great speeches. Students will learn to use some commonly used speech techniques from great communicators such as Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Patrick Henry, and Billy Graham as well as Martin Luther, Sojourner Truth, Ben Franklin, and many others. While students who compete in speech and debate will learn immensely from this class, it is even more beneficial for students who have never given a speech in public.

In this class, students will write and deliver three speeches: a self-introduction, an informative speech about a hero, and a persuasive speech. Students must have the ability to deliver their speech live in class or record themselves delivering their speeches in front of at least four individuals; the recordings will be posted for the teacher and class to view. The informative speech or the persuasive speech must be delivered in front of an audience in the student’s community; it is up to the students and parents to decide where the speech is delivered before the last week of class. Finally, students will work in small groups to complete a project focusing on one great communicator.

Please view prerequisites and required supplies below.