Dear 4th Grader and Families:

This year, you will have the opportunity to write and

present a 3-5 minute expository speech. An expository
speech is given by an expert of a particular topic to
expose his/her audience to some interesting ideas and
facts about the topic. You will also create at least one
visual aid, such as a poster, to illustrate and support
your main ideas during your speech.

Preparing a speech is fun and easy if you follow the

alligator’s footsteps. In this unit, you will be learning to
write a speech with a snappy beginning, meaty middle,
and powerful ending. You will also be learning to
present your speech in an interesting way.

This booklet contains assignments that need to be

completed on your time. This booklet also contains
other information about your speech, such as a rubric
(how you speech will be assessed), checklists,
guidelines, timelines, and examples.

You will find that the more work and creativity you put
into your speech, the more you will enjoy presenting
your speech. So give this unit your best effort, and
maybe you will be one of the fourth graders from your
school chosen to present at the All City Speech Meet.

Thank you for your involvement!

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14 Video presentation checklist
15 Partner checklist
16 Practice rubrics
17 Notes

Definition of an expository speech:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Possible topic examples:

______________________________ _____________________________

______________________________ _____________________________

Possible topics:

______________________________ _____________________________

______________________________ _____________________________

______________________________ _____________________________

______________________________ _____________________________

The topic for my speech is ________________________________ because

_______________________________________________________

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 How to Write Your Sources Correctly
The last page of your speech should include your bibliography. Be
sure to examine the punctuation of each carefully!

Book example:
Arnheim, R. (1971). Art and Visual Perception. Berkeley,
CA: University of California Press.
*The author’s last name is listed first. It is followed by the date of publication,
in parentheses, ended with a period.

Interview example:
March 23, 2004, Interview with Dr. Alec Dogs, doctor of
veterinary medicine.

Magazine example:
Page, E. (1998). The use of the computer in analyzing student
essays. International Review of Education, 14, 253-263.
*The author’s last name is listed first.It is followed by the date of publication,
in parentheses, ended with a period. The title of the article is not capitalized,
and the title of the magazine is capitalized and in italics, followed by the
volume of the magazine and the page numbers of the article.

Internet example:
Bryant,P. (2002). Biodiversity and Conservation Retrieved October
4, 2004 from darwin.bio.uci.edu/sustain/bio65/Titlpage.htm
*The author’s last name is listed first.It is followed by the date of publication,
in parentheses, ended with a period. The title of the article is capitalized and in
italics, followed by the date you looked up article and the website.

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An attention-getting snappy beginning could be:
1. a startling fact or statistic
2. story, real or created
3. poem, song, or jingle

Here is an example of a snappy beginning:

1. An attention-getting question or statement:

2. An introduction sentence:

3. Today I will be…

Here is my plan for my snappy beginning:

1. An attention-getting question or statement:

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. An introduction sentence (why you chose your topic) :

_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3. Today I will be…
1. ___________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________

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 Three parts of a POWERFUL ENDING:
1. Transition into ending sentence
2. Review main points
3. Memorable conclusion sentence

Example POWERFUL ENDING:

1. Transition into ending sentence:
___________________________________________
____________________________________________
2. Review main points
 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________
3. Memorable conclusion sentence that will
leave a big impression on your audience:
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
________________________________________________________

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Your visual aid should include the following criteria:

_____It should have a well-written, dark-colored, clear title that can be read at
least one-half of a classroom away.

____The title should be in block letters that are traced with stencils, printed
from the computer, or punched out will the Ellison machine (the aide’s handy-
dandy letter-puncher)

____It should not be cluttered with too much info (KISS – keep it simple senor or
senorita).

____It should highlight the three main points of your speech.

___It should have a graphic or picture that catches the eye, supports your
topic, and is easy to see from a distance.

TITLE

Main pictur

point 1 e

Main
point 2

Main
point 3

Public Speaking checklist

Score = /80

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CONTENT:
Snappy Beginning _____________________________________________
Does it have pizzazz? Is it creative?
Does it get the audience’s attention? 5 points

Meaty Middle _________________________________________________

Paragraph 1: Does it have a main idea?
Is it well organized? Does it contain facts? 5 points

Meaty Middle _________________________________________________

Paragraph 2: Does it have a main idea?
Is it well organized? Does it contain facts? 5 points

Meaty Middle _________________________________________________

Paragraph 3: Does it have a main idea?
Is it well organized? Does it contain facts? 5 points

Powerful Ending ______________________________________________

Does it summarize the three main points?
Does it end with a memorable quote or a bang? 5 points

Length of Speech _____________________________________________

Did it last 3-5 minutes (expository)? 5 points
Did it last 4-6 minutes (oratory)? 5 points

PRESENTATION: _____________________________________________
Eye Contact 5 points
Volume 5 points
Expression 5 points
Enunciation 5 points
Memorization 5 points
Gestures 5 points
Speed 5 points
Style 5 points
Use of visual aids (expository) 5 points
OR the triangle movement (oratory)

CHECKLIST
My name:
My topic:

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