Unit Plan

Public Speaking in English Class

Grades

9–12

Duration

16 DAYS

Overview

English class must develop students' speaking skills in addition to skills in reading and writing. The creative and fun topics of the speeches in Lessons 1 and 2 will inspire students' interest, help them to become comfortable speaking in front of an audience, and give them practice writing and delivering good speeches that inform and capture their listeners' attention. The Group Product-Pitch Presentation encourages students to merge their public speaking skills with their reading and writing skills.

Quick links to unit plan resources:

3 Items

Lesson Plan

6 Items

Reproducible

Preinstructional Planning

During Instruction

Preinstructional Planning

Objectives

Students will:

Work cooperatively
Make and explain connections between quotes and personal lives
Display active listening skills
Develop collegial relationships with classmates
Organize information by creating key word/phrase outlines
Make verbal and visual presentations
Use rubrics for peer feedback and evaluation as well as self-reflection
Think critically

During Instruction

Culminating Activity

Have students work in pairs to create a speech about a pressing social issue. Together they must take a stance on some aspect of the issue, create a visual aid(s) in support of their position, and share a 3-4 minute verbal presentation in which they explain their issue and their stance. Audience members should complete peer feedback rubrics.

Supporting Books

Books for Creating Speech Topics

Either/Or Speech

Features a fun way for students to become more comfortable with speaking before an audience while practicing general public speaking skills.

GRADES

9–12

DURATION

3 DAYS

GRADES

9–12

DURATION

3 DAYS

Quotation Response Speech

Requires students to make connections between quotations and real life while improving upon their public speaking skills and speaking for a greater length of time.