By now, you’ve completed your English media article and are settling into your senior English journey. This task is like no other. It requires you to find a topic you’re passionate about and hook us in with your persuasive skills. So, hone your public speaking skills and get ready to convince us to climb on board your ideas.
Below is a comprehensive breakdown to ace this task.
The Task and Marking Criteria for your QCE English Persuasive Speech
This assignment is a 5 to 8 minute persuasive speech about a contentious social issue in the media within the past year. This involves constructing a persuasive argument of your own and can include, but not limited to broader topics of gender, power, race, religion, age, class and sustainability. You will present your speech, and the word count is not specifically constrained.
The marking criteria assess your 3 Criteria through 3 unique dot points for each criterion. There is a more comprehensive description from the QCAA website, here.
Firstly, Knowledge Application
- Perspectives and representations of concepts, identities, time and places in a persuasive text.
- Use of cultural assumptions, attitudes, values and beliefs that underpin texts and invite audiences to take up positions.
- Use of aesthetic features and stylistic devices to achieve persuasive purposes.
Secondly, Organisation Development
- Use of patterns and conventions of a persuasive text, and of the role of the speaker/signer/designer, to achieve a purpose.
- Selection and synthesis of subject matter to support perspectives.
- Organisation and sequencing of subject matter to achieve a particular purpose, including discerning use of cohesive devices to emphasise ideas and connect parts of a persuasive text.
Thirdly, Textual Features.
- Language choices for particular purposes.
- A combination of a range of grammatically accurate/appropriate language structures to achieve particular purposes.
- Use of spoken/signed and nonverbal features to achieve particular purposes:
- Pronunciation, phrasing and pausing, audibility and clarity, volume, pace, and silence.
- Facial expressions, gestures, proximity, stance, movement.
- Graphics, still and moving images, design elements, music and sound effects.
Manoj Arachige
Finding a Topic:
It’s important to review the media from the past year for events, topics or statements that occurred. Reflect on what affected you. What made you think? What made you question? What do you have an opinion about? Here’s a link to find some topics that have popped up in the past year.
Once you’ve found an area that you're passionate about, go deeper into it. Do extended research on the topic, learn about was there a reason if came up in the media and how things have changed over time. This background research may not make your final cut for the speech, but it provides you with confidence as an “expert” on the topic when you strive to persuade your audience.
It's important to find a topic and your stance early in the process, providing you ample time to write, refine and practice your speech.
Writing Techniques and Structure:
After you’ve done your research, there are a couple more steps before you begin writing. It’s important to decide on many key features of your speech that directly address the marking criteria.
- Decide on a suitable role, audience and context for your speech.
This will be embedded into the introduction of your speech, as it is important to make clear. These must connect to your topic and what you’re persuading your audience for (select wisely). An example of a role could be an informative speaker from organisation X, who’s a 30-year-old female with 10+ years in industry Y.
- Present a thesis or contention on your chosen issue and develop an argument that reflects a perspective informed by your role.
A strong thesis makes up your entire argument. Be clear and concise on what you are EXACTLY arguing about/for.
- Generate your arguments.
There’s no specific number of reasons/arguments you must have, but have some solid ideas that support your thesis. I recommend 2 or 3 main arguments.
Now that you’ve completed these 3 tasks, it's time to start writing.
Firstly, begin with a hook. A paragraph of around 100 words to get your audience excited and involved in your topic. An example could be asking a series of rhetorical questions or using the rule of 3 (3 quick but powerful statements). Then lead into your thesis.
Secondly, your thesis. By now, your audience should have an idea of what you’re talking about, it’s important to lean into your thesis. Like an upside-down triangle, zoning in on your stance. This can also include providing your arguments in a quick summary.
Thirdly, your arguments. Previously, you probably learnt specific devices and ways to write persuasive paragraphs through strict TEEL structures. But here, we can throw out the middle section (EE). It’s important to expand on your ideas by providing examples, using persuasive techniques or useful numbers that support your idea. Have a good mix of quantitative and qualitative through seamless integration of them, ensuring it's not a numbers report or a pity party (remember it’s a persuasive public speech).
Lastly, your conclusion. Summarise your key points in a digestible way. Provide a statement or 2 for your audience to take away. What is something you want them to remember going forward? End in a strong position, which makes your audience think about your topic, your viewpoint and their personal stance. Further, this could involve getting them to do something, e.g sign a petition, attend a protest or change the way they think (be more aware).
This task provides you with a lot of leeway and an unstructured approach. Take advantage of it, be creative! Indulge in the persuasive devices you’ve been going through in class. For more specific persuasive writing tips, follow the link here.
Once you’ve written your speech, get editing. Great writing begins with even better editing. Make sure you’ve got the best word in the best place every time. Take the time to do so. Make sure to read it out loud and make sure it “sounds” right.
Manoj Arachige
Presenting:
Almost a third of your mark goes to your presenting skills. There’s obviously the basics of using gestures and half-decent eye contact. But this time, take it to the next level. Try to have it almost memorised by the time you speak, so the audience can feel your passion about your topic, and you are directly talking to them instead of reading to them. This only comes with practice. Practice presenting as often as possible and record yourself (yes, it feels weird watching it back, but it's soooo useful). Be your biggest critic and change things. Also, practice in front of your family, friends or even your favourite teddy bear. Have an audience for you to address.
Once you’ve found your favourite method of presenting, isolate it. Edit your speech document to include when to pause for effect, bold/underline to emphasise certain phrases, and hand gestures. Also, make the font bigger than you would normally, like a 14 instead of an 11. This makes it easier to find your place if you’re lost and present your speech without having to look closely at the paper.
Presenting skills are vital for your assessment. Your marker will not be assessing your written speech; instead will only view your presentation. For more tips on presenting, here’s a link to Harvard University's top 10 tips.
Enjoy this experience, as it can be fun getting passionate about a topic of your choosing. And remember…
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!!!
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FAQs
How much does the QCE English Persuasive Speech assignment go towards my final grade for English?
It contributes to 25% of your senior English grade.
How many words do I aim to write for the QCE English Persuasive Speech?
Don’t worry about the word count to start. First, write naturally and get it down on paper. Then, begin the editing process, which involves practising performing and editing what you’ve written to make sure it’s “speakable”. Only after you’ve gone through this, set a timer for your speech without changing your speed. If your speech is between 5-8 minutes, you’ve got nothing to worry about. To help with your
Do I have to memorise my speech?
No, you don’t have to memorise it word for word. But it is highly recommended to know your speech really well. For your hook section, it would be best not to look down on much or at all, as this is your main opportunity to get your audience’s attention. Also, memorising the entire speech could be problematic as instead of focusing on the presentation, you instead trying to remember your next line. However, if you would like tips on memorising your speech, take a look at KIS Academics’ tips on effectively memorising for English essays here.
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