Invitational Speech Assignment

General Purpose: To invite Specific Purpose: To invite my audience to consider… Length: 8-10 minutes. Consider how you would like to divide the time: Reserve 3-4

minutes for your audience to share prior to your conclusion. Topic: Choose a topic that interests you and one that you would like to begin to

explore and to tell your audience about. Then you’ll open the floor to the view and ideas of others. Therefore, you will not have to research thoroughly, maybe read newspapers or magazine articles about this issue.

Option 1: You hold a belief or position, and your goal is to explain it, then discuss with your audience so they might understand your position more fully. And you are able to understand the positions of others more fully. Option 2: You have some tentative thoughts on an issue, but you want to discover what others think; your goal is to understand others’ views so you could understand your own position more. For instance, share advantages and disadvantages from your research, then open it up to others. Requirements: The goal of this speech is to try to understand the complexity of an issue, understand why your

audience sees things as they do, and explore a topic civilly and with openness. Pay special attention to your language. Invite openness, not close people off to participating.

Use phrases like: This is the position I hold, I came to this view because, Why do you think so? and Can you explain why you prefer that solution? (check page 400).

Organization: A written preparation outline is required for this speech and should include all relevant

content and sources. Follow the model in your text (page 171-181). Your bibliography listing the sources you consulted must be included in proper format.

A speaker's outline/notes is recommended when delivering the speech. (For an example see pages 182-189 in your text.)

Sources: At least one credible source (you can also use yourself) must be mentioned in the speech

and referenced properly (APA style) in outline. Wikipedia and Google is not a good college source; however, it may be a good way to begin to

find an appropriate article to use. Visual Aid: No visual aid is required for this speech, but you may use one if you’d like. Self-critique: Remember to complete the self-critique activity after watching your recorded speech.