Students are often asked to perform speeches, but rarely do we require students to analyze speeches as carefully as we study works of literature. In this unit, students are required to identify the rhetorical strategies in a famous speech and the specific purpose for each chosen device. They will write an essay about its effectiveness and why it is still famous after all these years.

Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts. These units are part of the Developing Core Proficiencies Program. This unit develops students' abilities to make evidence-based claims through activities based on a close reading of the Nobel Peace Prize Speeches of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Barack Obama.

Making Evidence-Based Claims ELA/Literacy Units empower students with a critical reading and writing skill at the heart of the Common Core: making evidence-based claims about complex texts. These units are part of the Developing Core Proficiencies Program. This unit develops students€' abilities to make evidence-based claims through activities based on a close reading of President Ronald Reagan€'s First Inaugural Address and Secretary Hillary Clinton€'s 2011 APEC Address.

This lesson introduces the concept of Ňglance mediaÓ through an analysis of billboards. Students apply design concepts by creating a slide presentation to accompany an existing historical speech.

Looking for public speaking tips? Learn five ways to help ensure your next speech is a success.

The five tips are:
1. Know your subject and your speech;
2. Know your audience and your space;
3. Never apologize;
4. Imagine yourself giving a great speech; and
5. Focus on your message, not on yourself.

This assignment allows students to share what they have learned from their independent novel studies as well as present their information in a speech. This assignment also has students meet in small group to discuss their novels.

No Red Ink is an online site that helps students specifically with grammar. It gives quizzes and exercises tailored to that students’ interests (sports, celebrities, etc) and offers a number of different differentiated platforms and games.

You have to sign up to use this for your students. Some features are locked for paid accounts, but that being said, there are a number of excellent activities for free as well!

Students complete a diagnostic test, do the practice and then write an assessment.

*grammar
*writing prompts
*skill building
*reading response
*bell ringers
*exit tickets
*fluency
*persuasion
*informational texts
*novel activities

Whether you’re new to giving speeches or are a seasoned Toastmaster, these how-to articles will help you hone your skills. Get quick and easy tips for how to prepare and present an award, use visual aids and props, incorporate body language into your presentations, and more. With time and practice, you’re sure to see improvement in your ability to communicate and an increase in your confidence as well.

Find out tips and tricks for:
Accepting Awards
Delivering Eulogies
Delivering Technical Briefings
Giving Sales Pitches
Introducing Speakers
Preparing a Speech
Presenting Awards
Speaking to Diverse Audiences
Successful Speeches
Visual Aids and Props
Gestures and Body Language

The Toastmasters Podcast is like a radio talk show featuring interviews with Toastmasters usually featured in the Toastmaster magazine. But unlike a radio show, a podcast is on the Internet, and available, for free, to anyone in the world with an Internet connection, and a connected device capable of playing audio. 150+ episodes are at ToastmastersPodcast.com