Speech Analysis Worksheet
Content
Guidance on how to respond to each question is provided in green text.
Purpose: Why is the speech being given?
Speaker's background knowledge:Education, experience, expertise in the topic of the speech.
Influences (traditional, cultural, historical): What experiences affect how this speaker views the subject of the speech (Example:
Listener's background knowledge:What makes this speaker worth listening to on this topic?
See the "Types of Arguments" table on page 412 for more information.
|
Arguments
|
Evidence/Support
|
Possible flaws
|
|
1.Does the speaker use analogy?
|
A.
|
A.
|
|
|
B.
|
B.
|
|
2. Does the speaker use authority?
|
A.
|
A.
|
|
|
B.
|
B.
|
|
3. Does the speaker use Emotion?
|
A.
|
A.
|
|
|
B.
|
B.
|
|
4.Does the speaker use Causation?
|
A.
|
A.
|
|
|
B.
|
B.
|
|
5
|
A.
|
A.
|
|
|
B.
|
B.
|
Delivery
Repeated words:What important words or phrases did the speaker repeat several times in the speech?
Emphasized words/ phrases:What words or phrases were emphasized either by increased volume, or gesturing when saying them?
Tone: What is the speaker's attitude toward the topic on which s/he is speaking? Positive? Angry? Reflective?
Word choice (positive or negative language):
Does the speaker use mostly positive words or negative words?
Rate of speech (fast, moderate, slow):
Appropriateness for audience, subject, occasion:
Did it make sense that the speaker was giving the speech to this particular audience on this occasion?
Non-verbal gestures
Eye contact: Did the speaker make eye contact regularly with the audience (or mostly look at a text and read it off)
Facial expressions:
How did the speaker appear as s/he spoke? Smiling? Frowning? Etc.
Gestures:
What types of hand movements does the speaker make?
Pauses: When does the speaker pause? What is the effect of these pauses?
Increases or decreases in speaking volume:
When does the speaker raise or lower voice? What does this convey to the audience?
Overall Impression
Speaker: What did you think of the speaker?
Speech: What did you think of the message of the speech and how the speaker conveyed that message?