Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Creating An Impression First Assignment Spring 2011
The goal of this assignment is to help you acquire in class this semester the skills needed to produce an effective speech presentation. Find a clip of a presenter (celebrity, athlete, politician, etc.) on Youtube or some other video outlet available to you on the Internet, and evaluate why you feel he or she makes an impact on you through his/her speech. We will be using an assignment feedback form in class when we present our speeches to evaluate your peer's presentations, but for right now share your present understanding of what is effective and ineffective in your chosen subject's delivery and message. This presenter can be making a speech, giving an interview or in a film as a character who makes an impact on you. The clip should not be more than two minutes (it is just a small part of the whole presentation). Place the url address of the link in the blog for me and your peers to look at as they review your posting. Additionally, be prepared to share why you chose this person in our class meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 3rd. (so, you must post by our next class meeting. No late posting after this date will receive homework points.) As stated, you can use Youtube, news site (CNN.com, msnbc.msn.com) live.com/video, TED Talks site or some other video sharing location on the web.
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Moe Hindi
I chose an interview with Cassius Clay-Ali, after his fight with Sonny Liston.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UaDbVbQTrM&feature=related
I chose the Michael Jackson interview that quite possibly ruined his career/the rest of his life. Warning: this interview is very disturbing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTocf3aWlIA
Please watch from minutes 7:20 - 9:15
When I saw "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch a couple months ago, I was amazed by what a wonderful presenter he was. He was VERY animated, and used a relaxed conversational tone with the audience that made it fun and easy to listen to and enjoy what he had to say. Pausch also spoke life-centered words of inspiration and motivation that people of all backgrounds and positions in life could understand and appreciate even after the lecture was over. He also used fun yet informative visual aides that not only helped to prove his points, but to drive them home and keep the audience interested. His non-threatening, even inviting manners and gestures let the audience know that he was comfortable in his skin and on the stage, which gave us relief in knowing that the words were down-to-Earth and from his heart. The lecture is rather lengthy, but because of Randy Pausch's excellent presentation, it was easy to watch the entire thing, not realize that over an hour had gone by, and wish there was more to come! In my opinion, this was an excellent speech, and Randy Pausch made it that by using his audience captivating speaking skills to make it just that. If you get the opportunity, I would recommend that everyone view the lecture in it's entirety.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
I chose the speech by Barney Smith from the Democratic National Convention. His identity is that of a working class American, not a politician, therefore he retains a connection with the regular American Joe. He speaks about issues that have affected him first-hand as an American and alludes that McCain will allow these problems to continue, therefore he has become a democrat and an avid Obama supporter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuAVw_v3br8
I chose to evaluate a clip of Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy announcement. He is giving a speech before thousands of people but remains calm and tries to relate to all the different people he is speaking in front of. I think his personality shines throughout the speech. The way he speaks is very personable as he first begins the speech with thanking everyone for coming and he then sympathizes with the audience about the cold weather.
I think it was very effective that he really relates to his audience when he is giving this speech. Also, I was able to focus on what he was saying since he uses a lot of intonation in his voice and speaks with enthusiasm. I feel that he makes an impact on me through his speech since I can connect with what he is saying and the way he speaks sounds very sincere.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdJ7Ad15WCA 1:00-3:00
For as long as I can remember, the inaugural address given by John F. Kennedy in 1961 has enthralled me. Every time I listen to his words, a chill runs down my spine. The imagery and metaphors used in his speech are unlike any other speech I have ever heard. What makes this speech so great is that JFK compliments his words with a powerful, yet sincere, voice and an animated and dynamic presence. This presence and voice is the stickiness factor to me.
Another reason this was an effective speech is for the fact that it captured the imagination of the entire nation in an era when the future looked bleak. His speech gave hope to all Americans that the future will not only be bright, but it will be fascinating as well. The words of his inauguration addressed the concerns of the American public, showing that he has listen to their cry and is answering it. For these reasons, this is why I have chosen the Presidential Inaugural Address of 1961 given by John F. Kennedy. The chosen section of his speech is from 3:10 to the end at the following address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s6U8GActdQ&feature=related
I choose Michelle Obama’s speech from the Democratic National Convention. Michelle, like her husband Barack, is a strong public speaker. Her speaking style is extremely contagious and her words greatly impact her audience. She is not only sticky, but she is animated and speaks to the audience using gestures and facial expressions to further her message. Michelle knows how to connect to her audience and uses an approachable speaking style. She puts herself on the same level as every other American. She even speaks of Barack in very personal terms. She mentions that he is the same man that she fell in love with 19 years ago. This brings the audience in on a personal level; we as an audience feel that Barack must be a true and sincere man knowing that he has stayed the same no matter his amount of success or fame. Michelle also incorporates repetition into her speech. She repeats the word “hope” to promote the idea that Barack stands for hope and change for the American public. Through this repetition, Michelle really presses the hot buttons of the audience. She wants the audience to feel some kind of “instant gratification” in that once they vote for Barack their hope for better will result in change for the better. Michelle effectively instills this hope in her audience for a brighter America. Michelle definitely follows an “emotional marketing” style. She feels that if she makes everyone feel that the country is one united people, all seeking for change, that they can find change in Barack. Michelle is a strong and captivating speaker. It will be interesting to see further speeches by Michelle, especially if she becomes First Lady. Michelle could become one of the most influential First Ladies of all time if her speeches continue to follow her present public speaking style.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmIUd-b_iNk&feature=user
From 0:00 to 2:00
The person that I chose is professional boxer Muhammad Ali; it is an interview from 1964 after his victorious fight against Sonny Liston. Ali is a known for having over the top interviews; he is definitely a strong public speaker. His speaking style is tremendously infectious. Ali is great at using his vocabulary skills to make an impact; his intentions are to feed the crowd with his rhyming. Ali is sticky, and extremely animated. He incorporates gestures and facial expressions to further his message. Ali knows how to connect to his audience and opponents by using a vibrant speaking style; whether they are cheering or booing, the crowd is paying attention to what ever is coming out of Ali’s mouth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UaDbVbQTrM&feature=
Every presenter utilizes their unique caliber in order to send out their message effectively. They all practice a certain technique that hypnotizes the audience. Little by little the audience begins to wrap themselves around every word spilling out of the presenter. An individual that carries a strong technique, such as the one previously mentioned, is the character Howard Beale. Howard Beale is the main character in a movie called The Network. He is a television anchorman who stumbles upon consecutive bumps, from the very beginning of the movie. Howard’s ratings dwindle, his wife passes away, and he begins to resort to alcohol. One time while being on air he decides to give the show a twirl and tells the audience that he will commit suicide the following Tuesday. Howard Beale delivers his messages very passionately. The clip I chose is of a very popular scene,in which the expectancy violation theory plays a crucial role. When an anchor person goes on air one assumes that they will be very professional. Anything less is not expected, that is unless you are Howard Beale. His technique seems odd, but it has a very influential impact on the audience. Howard plays with the tone of his voice and the audience’s expectations. Notice that he begins with a calm and subtle voice. He addresses the issues at hand, slowly reels in the audience, and creates a common ground. This common ground is seen evident in his use of words. Notice that how he uses the word “we” a number of times in order to build a common ground. Then out of no where he breaks the rules; there is even use of inappropriate language. Howard’s tone becomes louder and his face expressions change. One is able to compare his tone of voice and gestures to that of a parent scolding their child for misbehaving. It is a very tricky method because the audience may take it one way or another. Yet Howard Beale seems to breeze right through it. He uses powerful gestures such as a fist, while putting emphasize on certain phrases. This technique works to highlight the important parts of his speech and to make sure those parts are embedded in the audience's memory. At the end of the video his message is delivered well and his speech becomes a long echo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBZDwf9dok&feature=related
I chose Hillary Clinton and her speech at the Democratic Convention.
The reason for choosing Hillary’s convention speech was because once again, it confirms her self-centeredness and why she never garnered my support. What the Democrats need to win this falls election is a team player. Instead of joining other politicians in supporting Barack Obama’s run for the Presidency of the United States, Hillary spoke about herself and what she believes she has accomplished as a Democrat. Rather than highlight the strength and skills that Barack brings to the table, she chose to speak about what she considers to be her strengths. I am disappointed once again in Hillary and believe that the time she spent speaking at the convention would have been far more beneficial to the Democratic party had she urged those who supported her, to support Barack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIPo-VjXzlY
Kathrine Avila
The first time I saw and heard this inspirational speech from Al Pacino in the movie "Any Given Sunday" I was amazed. I really like how he captivates his audience, the football team. What I like to see in an effective speaker is a person that can motivate others to not give up and to keep looking forward. As an athlete these types of speeches are highly appreciated. Al Pacino also does not loose his audience but instead "pumps" them up even more. He also uses his own experiences to delivers his message effectively, and being a living testimony helps very much. In the movie he is a very passionate speaker and know what his team has to hear, so that they can make an effect in the field. Although I would not use profanity and violence to communicate, in Al Pacino's case he has indeed send his message and it was well received. The video is longer then 2 min but these observations where made in the very beginning of the speech.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO4tIrjBDkk
I have always liked the speech made by the Devil in "The Devil's Advocate" played by Al Pacino.
See here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGR4SFOimlk
In this speech, the devil is very animated and uses a conversational tone in his presentation to his son. The speaker's movements accentuated the important topics in his speech to keep his audience interested and watching. He tries to relate to his audience by playing their concerns about religion and how it really works in the world according to him.
The devil's personality and bitterness about the way things work according to God added that personal shine to his speech. Effective speakers personalize their speeches to make the speech more interesting.
What I found ineffective in the devil's speech is the fact he attacks his audience for their beliefs and then uses their beliefs against them. He distanced himself from the person he was trying to persuade and made him get defensive.
-Kathleen B
I chose to look at one of Senator Barack Obama’s speeches from when he was in Toledo, Ohio. Obama has some very effective mannerisms when he speaks. One of the first things I noticed is the way he moves his hands. All his hand motions are open and embracing. This way of speaking is much more inviting than a speaker who points at the audience or uses his hands in a manner that appears to be condescending and separating themselves from the crowd. Furthermore, when Obama speaks, he uses the word “we” a lot. This again brings him together with the audience rather than placing himself above them by saying “I” or “you.” In other words, Obama relates to his audience by showing them, throw how he speaks, that he is one of them, and he is trying to work with them as their leader. He also does not use political jargon when speaking to the people, he uses everyday language that the everyman can easily understand and follow. But also, does not do so in a way where it seems condescending as if he’s trying to go down to the crowd’s level. For these reasons, Obama seems to have the skills to deliver effective speeches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--vlT1iGF0g&feature=user
When we were given this assignment, the first speech that popped into my head was one given by Senator Barrack Obama. Seeing that a couple of other people chose him, however, I decided to go with another speech of sorts that I thought truly got through to and involved the audience: the presentation given by Al Gore in "An Inconvenient Truth". Whether or not you agree with the man, you must admit that he knows how to captivate an audience. Obviously, the slide show displayed in the film helped to get quite a bit of attention from the audience. It was well done (professional - clearly) and did much more than simply add to the speech. Without the slides though, Mr. Gore would still have been able to capture the audience by himself. I thought that the way he walked around the stage and looked INTO the audience rather than simply AT them made quite an impact. It engages a viewer. I know that if I were there, I definitely would have been paying attention. He was also very conversational (yet demanding of respect) in his tone. He was easy to listen to and easy to take seriously. Despite his dire message, Mr. Gore was also light-hearted at times, breaking out the funny with lines such as "I used to be the future president of the United States". For me, humor always helps a presentation or speech, no matter what the topic. This presentation was not only enjoyable to hear and see, but also extremely effective in getting a message across...I mean, the guy won a Nobel prize...
I could not, unfortunately, find a clip from the actual film anywhere online, so instead I posted the trailer. It has some of the lines.....
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2078944470709189270
Robin Williams made a speech to Matt Damon in “Good Will Hunting” about love, life, and personal experience. This speech really captured my attention because of the sincerity and vulnerability of Williams. Robin Williams opens up about intimate details of his past to someone who has recently insulted him. Exposing himself like this makes his speech so powerful because it is like he has nothing to lose. The details that Robins explains are details you would never ever know until you have experience them yourself. This fact affected me like it affected the most because I have read about what Robins was talking about, but the details he explained created imagery a book never could. The emotion and honesty behind Robin Williams words made his speech have an infinitely higher effect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws66aAdthE0
I chose JFK's speech in front of the Berlin Wall. In giving this speech, Kennedy formed an unspoken alliance with the people of a broken Germany. The Soviet Union controlled all of Eastern Berlin along with the rest of Eastern Europe, but JFK's message transcended the divide between communism and capitalism. It went far beyond the United States versus the Soviet Union. He came to Berlin not as the president of the United States of America, but as a fellow citizen of the collective human population. His use of the phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner" created a common ground between him and his audience. By reaching out to his listeners, he was able to draw them in and successfully spread his message of hope and freedom.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH6nQhss4Yc
Changing the way you think... Dr. Wayne Dyer
I strongly admire those with compassion and liberality of spirit; which is one of the many qualities that Dr. Wayne Dyer preserves. Dr. Dyer is a worldwide author and prominent speaker of self-enlightenment. His ability to connect with the audience is not fleeting, but remains prevalent. The content and organization of his speeches always seem relatable and hit “home”. His style precedes him in everything he says and does which is why I feel that Dr. Dyer is so “likeable”. Dyer does not just talk the talk, but he walks the walk.
View Dr. Wayne Dyer in an interview at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRAewRQl_ZY
I choose General Patton's speech from the movie Patton. This speech sets the tone of the movie and really gets into the character of General Patton. Although not necessarily a good person, Patton was a great military leader during a time that America most needed one. This speech works as an inspirational point for the troops being addressed as they prepared for what must have been a terrifying experience. Although Patton comes across tough and almost uncaring, it is simply because he must remain tough for the troops to carry out their job. This speech is specifically tailored towards the military and therefore would not work in a nonmilitary situation. Despite this I think that it is incredibly motivating and even moving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDecLiA_Qbw
The speech I decided to pick was that of Miss Teen South Carolina 2007, Caitlin Upton. I decided to pick this speech because it is a perfect example of just what can happen when one freezes in the moment of delivering a speech. Upton was asked…"Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?" Caitlin never took the time to comprehend the question. Since she was overwhelmed and clearly nervous she let out a grammar teachers nightmare, “I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our children”
Her failure to speak in front of an audience cost Caitlin the competition. I picked this speech because it is the most viewed speech on YouTube (28 million and counting). I noticed that the most speech on YouTube wasn’t a great one, but a horrible one. This shows the importance of this class. People take notice when others don’t fare too well in front of a group. Maybe this is why speaking publicly is a common fear of many. For those afraid to speak in front of a group, I do not think it can get much worse than Miss Teen South Carolina 2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
I saw Bono give a speech 4 years ago at a college graduation and to this day I have yet to hear a better address. It was inspirational and passionate and for this reason I immediately looked up Bono's speeches on youtube for this assignment.
I believe an important aspect of being a good speaker is how personable and funny the individual is, but even more important is being sincere and passionate about the topic at hand. Bono is not only a singer, but also a political activist and he uses his influence to make a difference in the world. He firmly stands by his beliefs and his words have a strong impact because he truly believes in his cause.
Also, Bono adds a little bit of himself into his speeches which allows his audience to relate to him on a more personal level. His sense of humor is addicting and his storytelling is captivating.
Bono truly makes you feel like you are part of the cause to stop poverty. He also does an amazing job of introducing Nelson Mandela - a man who needs no introduction. His sense of humor and passion are incredible assets to his inspiring speeches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-lgDFMWssA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTocf3aWlIA
Please watch from minutes 7:20 - 9:15
In 2003, Martin Bashir hosted a documentary entitled “Living with Michael Jackson”, in which he followed music superstar Michael Jackson through his daily life and interviewed him about some controversial issues in which he was involved. The impact of not only the interviews, but the entire documentary was altogether disturbing and shocking. It left people talking about it for years to come, and to this day still holds significance. In this excerpt, Bashir begins by bringing up the subject of the relationship between Gavin (a 12-year old boy) and Michael Jackson. When questioned about the issue of Michael and Gavin sharing a bedroom together, Michael Jackson proceeds to call all of the people who think this is inappropriate “ignorant”. He then goes on to say that sharing bedrooms with children is “a beautiful thing”. Then he goes on to finally say “…I have slept in the bed with many children”, and questions, “What’s wrong with sharing love?”, as though sleeping in a bed with children is only and simply about love. Throughout the interview, the audience gets a sense of the perverted and pedophilic nature of Michael Jackson. It is most likely safe to assume that this was Martin Bashir’s goal. In fact, the most effective parts of the interview were had by Bashir. The questions he asked (and the ways he asked them) were specifically designed to elicit the response that he desired out of Jackson. This most likely can be attributed to the fact that the tone of Bashir’s voice seemed to be in a way simultaneously subjective and objective, perhaps making Jackson feel comfortable enough to discuss all of the controversial issues. It is quite obvious that Michael Jackson was very ineffective in achieving his goal of proving his innocence and benevolence. Each time Jackson tried to justify his pedophilic and perverted activities with young boys he makes himself look even worse. His answers were not only very disturbing, but also had a childlike naiveté, which was most likely a tactic meant to make himself look innocent and benevolent. The reason I chose this particular interview, was because this was one of the only interviews that I still think about to this day as a pivotal part of interview-history.
Gideon O said.......
i chose Nelson Mandela's Inaugural Speech in 1994. Nelson Mandela is a great leader and a role model to most people. During this speech he wasn't able to connect with his audience. But the audience were able to connect with him because of the crises the country was going trough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5LcxkNpkns
Tony Robbins is an extremely effective inspirational speaker. Standing well above six feet tall, his general presence draws colossal attention. His grand stature allows him the opportunity to be looked up to by most in the crowd. Besides his height, many of his other physical attributes play a role in his success as a public speaker. His large white teeth draw listeners to his mouth, allowing them to follow his words. Also, Robbins’ dark eyes and hair give him a sense of sternness and seriousness that draws listeners to his words. Robbins also chooses wisely his wardrobe and stage setting. Wearing black clothes against a dark background, his face and hands become highlighted. This allows listeners to follow and pay close attention to his facial and hand gestures. He also maintains eye contact with his audience. This is very important for listeners in the crowd as it offers them the sense that they are being spoken to directly and keeps their attention.
Robbins’ success though, is not due solely to his physical appearance. When listening to Robbins, one can get a sense that he truly believes in what he is saying. This is key to getting other people to believe what he is saying. Robbins also frequently changes the pitch of his words which maintains audience attention. His speech is conversational and therefore the members of the audience feel as if they are getting a personal experience through listening to him speak. He uses comedy in his speech which provides the audience with a reprieve from the seriousness of his speech and refreshes audience attention. He also frequently uses metaphors providing listeners with analogies to real life experiences and points which aid listeners in remembering Robbins words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4d6j-lnhtw
I chose these comments made by Barack Obama to clarify the frenzy created by the media through a sound bite. Obama's speaking is powerful and touching because of his deliberate disregard of tactics but insistent genuity of content and emotion, which is also the message of this clip. Also, his energy feeds off of the crowd and there is a constant flow between him and the audience, just seeing his effect on people is amazing to watch. His inflections and truthfulness can be said to resemble gospel (meaning truth), but for politics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b42UI_m-HSU
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