Speech Critique 1 described in detail in your Student Handbook. Most of the requirements listed there are listed here as well. Consult the Handbook for additional information about the focus, format, and length of Critique 1.

 

The Task:       Critique Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech

 

Points:           50

 

On August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King delivered what is generally regarded as the greatest American political speech in the 20^th century. While your critique must focus on the speech itself, please consider reading background information about the overall significance of this speech.

 

Paper Requirements

¨       You must use a cover page (for your identifying information)

¨       2 complete pages (minimum); the maximum is 3 pages

¨       12 point, Times New Roman text, double spaced, with 1 inch margins all around

¨       You must have an introduction, thesis statement, several main ideas, and a conclusion

¨       You must discuss the speech – do not spend time setting the stage or providing background

¨       Note: the (red) evaluation form I will use to grade your Speech Critique 1 is in your Student Handbook

 

Due Date

¨       Speech Critique # 1 is due on Wed., Feb. 28

¨       You MUST hand in 2 versions of all type-written assignments

¨       The electronic version is always due at class time that day

¨       The hard copy version is always due in class that day

¨       Note: I usually grade the hard copy and use the electronic copy as proof it was in on time if the hard copy is missing. But if you don’t turn in a hard copy, you won’t get a graded version back.

 

Location:       http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/Ihaveadream.htm

                      We will watch this speech once in class (probably 2/14).

Versions:       Video Strongly Recommended – click on the link to Google Video

                      (Audio-only is acceptable if the video link is down)

 

To see the ‘American Rhetoric’ list of the top 100 American political speeches of the 20^th century, go to: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html

 

Your Focus:   Speaker Techniques

 

Table 4.1 (p. 75) in Beebe & Beebe (2006) lists six rhetorical strategies. For this critique, you must focus on the fifth one listed in Table 4.1, Speaker Techniques. Speaker techniques include:

·         Rational arguments (often includes facts and statistics)

·         Emotional arguments (often includes examples, stories and quotes)

·         Artistic or vivid language

·         Techniques of performance (the ear-catching use of words or vocalization)

 

The Critique: Write a 2 page critique of the speech (see Student Handbook for details)

 

Some things to note:

¨       It’s a good idea to some background about the speech, so consider reading what others have said about it to understand the context for this remarkable rhetorical performance

¨       If you’re unfamiliar with MLK, the speech, or its place in history, use this assignment to fill in the gaps. Every educated American should know about certain events in history – and this is a big one.

¨       But pay attention to the directions in the Student Handbook – you must tie your critique to the structural components of public speaking discussed in Beebe & Beebe (2006)

¨       Be careful to not plagiarize someone else’s work. If you get an idea elsewhere, just be sure to cite the source. I’m pretty good at spotting copying, and I reserve the right to employ “Turn-it-in,” a plagiarism-detection service to which GMU now subscribes.