Group Speech Assignment:Symposium

Symposium Style Speech

A symposium is a discussion of 3-5 participants who present individual speeches on different aspects of the same topic in a similarly allotted time frame. All speakers are seated in front of the audience; one participant acts as the moderator, offering

introductory, transitional, and concluding remarks. After presenting these planned speeches, audience members are given the opportunity to ask questions of the participants.

Question may be directed to individuals in the group or to the group as a whole. Each speech included in the symposium could

stand alone, however, when spoken together, present a larger picture of the issue.

Learning Targets

• Group (content): Collaborate with a group to present multiple aspects of a chosen topic in a coherent, organized speech• Individual (delivery): Utilize effective public

speaking techniques to deliver your message to the audience

Tasks:• Step #1: As a group, choose a topic of interest to you. The best

topics will be ones that can be discussed from multiple angles. Consider a pro / con topic, a problem / solution topic, etc. Feel free to be creative. The more interested you are in your topic, the better your speeches will be. The focus of this speech is not on research / content, but instead the cohesiveness of your group speech. With that being said, if you do outside research, these sources should be documented in MLA formatting.• Ex: The pros and cons of participating in a high school sport. Problem /

solution: Students are not getting enough sleep at night in order to be ready to learn the following day.

• Step #2: Divide the topic into multiple angles. Assign various angles to group members. One group member will be responsible for being the moderator, whose role includes an introduction, transitions between speakers, conclusion, and moderating the Q&A.

Suggested Topics / Avenues to Explore• Sustainability• Education• Public vs. Private vs. online• Technology in the

classroom• School uniforms• Start times• structure

• Future Careers• Medicine:• Organ donation• Cancer• Surgical practices

• Politics• Voting Age• Taxes• Presidency

• Legalization issues• Interpersonal

Communication• Exponential Rise of

Technology

Tasks, Cont’d• Step #3: Develop an outline for your angle of the speech.

What is most important information to cover? How do you make it cohesive with the rest of your group?

• Step #4: Share your outline with the group. Develop transitions; point out any holes in your speech.

• Step #5: Practice your speech. Anticipate questions the audience may ask. Turn in your completed outline (as a group) to Ms. Osberg the day before you present your speech.

• Step #6: Present group speech. While others are presenting, write down +/- for discussion next week.

Timing• Speech Specifics:• Each member of the group should aim to speak for 2 minutes.

The moderator may speak for 3 minutes (intro, transitions, conclusion). Questions will be given 1 minute. Groups will have a total of 10 minutes to present. After 10 minutes, groups will be cut off due to time constraints.

Assessment:• Assessment: You will receive two separate grades for this

assignment.• Grade #1: GROUP• Content: Effectively using the group roles within your speech

group to collaborate and develop a symposium presentation that is cohesive

• Grade #2: INDIVIDUAL• Delivery: Effectively using prior knowledge of public speaking

skills to deliver your message to an audience

Problems to Avoid• Running over your time limit and encroaching on the time

limit of your group members• Divide up work and meet regularly to discuss progress.

• Discussing the material your group member was going to discuss.• Divide up the content and then check in with each other when

completed. Stick to you assigned topics.• Presenting your speech as unrelated bits of information.• Create transitions between speeches, refer to or build on the

material of your group members.

Timeline:• Monday:• Introduce speech, create a speech rubric with your group• Decide on a topic and delegate tasks• Introduce Outlining

• Tuesday:• Computer lab

• Research / gather information• Type up individual outlines• Build Transitions

• Wednesday: • Computer Lab

• Combine Outlines• Print• Practice

• Thursday:• 4-5 groups present

• Friday: • 2-3 groups present

• Group 1:• Peyton• Sam J.• Maryan A.• Jessica

• Group 2:• Jade• Zoe• Amber• Abby

• Group 3:

• Tanveer• Olga• Jake• Najmo

• Group 4:• Kennedy• Maryan H.• Carla• Lizzy

• Group 5: • Audrey

• Courtney• Farah• Tyler

• Group 6:• Jack• Sam P.• Jordan G.• Sage

• Group 7:• Mitchell

• Erick• Emily• Kiley• Risa

Hour 5 Speech Groups

Hour 5 Speech Topics• School Uniforms• What type of homework and how much homework should be

assigned• Pros and Cons of books becoming movies• Should silent prayer be allowed in schools?• Pros / Cons textbooks vs. tablets• Benefits and difficulties of art in different situations• Standardized testing pros and cons

Hour 5 Speech Delivery Order:• Thursday (50 minutes class periods):• Lizzy, Carla, Kennedy, Maryan• Jake, Olga, Najmo, Tanveer• Emily, Kiley, Mitchell, Risa, Erick

• Friday (35 minute class periods):• Courtney, Audrey, Farah, Tyler • Peyton, Sam, Maryan, Jessica,• Jade, Amber, Zoe, Abby

• TBD: • Sam, Sage, Jordan, Jack

• Group 1:• Alice• Aaron• Mikayla• Luke N

• Group 2:• Ryan• Jordan• Drake• Ray

• Group 3:• Ngor• Darlly• Sage• Maria

• Group 4:• Brenden• Abby• Yennifer• Jourdain

• Group 5:• Sam• Maryan• Alex• Toni

• Group 6:• Collin• Jason K.• Bella• Dehka

• Group 7:• Sarah• Luke F.• Jason M.• Emily S.

• Group 8:• Bobbi• Tatum• Roxy• Nhu

Hour 2 Speech Groups

Hour 2 Speech Topics:• Public / Private / Online• School Uniforms• Conspiracy Theories• School Start Times• Drinking Age• Open Hour / Open Campus• Legalization of Marijuana• Pros / Cons of High School Sports

Group Tasks• Decide on an overall topic that you would like to address• Break the overall topic into small topics• Research information• Build an individual speech• Build transitions into your symposium—groups with the most

success will have a cohesive speech that transitions from one to another

Individual Tasks• Research/write from memory your aspect of the assignment• Develop an outline for your speech• Practice your speech

Preparing Group Presentations

1. Divide the topic into areas of responsibility2. Draft an outline of your topic area3. Combine member outlines to form a group outline4. Finalize the details of delivery5. Practice your presentation