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Speech Analysis #1: How to Study and Critique a Speech
The Speech Analysis Series is a series of articles examining different aspects of presentation analysis. You will learn how to study a speech and how to deliver an effective speech evaluation. Later articles will examine Toastmasters evaluation contests and speech evaluation forms and resources.
- How to Study and Critique a Speech
- The Art of Delivering Evaluations
- Modified Sandwich Technique for Evaluations
- Evaluation Forms, Tools, and Resources
- Toastmasters Evaluation Contests
The first in the series, this article outlines questions to ask yourself when assessing a presentation . Ask these questions whether you attend the presentation, or whether you view a video or read the speech text. These questions also apply when you conduct a self evaluation of your own speeches .
The Most Important Thing to Analyze: The Speech Objectives
Knowing the speaker’s objective is critical to analyzing the speech, and should certainly influence how you study it.
- What is the speaker’s goal? Is it to educate , to motivate , to persuade , or to entertain ?
- What is the primary message being delivered?
- Why is this person delivering this speech ? Are they the right person?
- Was the objective achieved ?
The Audience and Context for the Speech
A speaker will need to use different techniques to connect with an audience of 1500 than they would with an audience of 15. Similarly, different techniques will be applied when communicating with teenagers as opposed to communicating with corporate leaders.
- Where and when is the speech being delivered?
- What are the key demographic features of the audience ? Technical? Students? Elderly? Athletes? Business leaders?
- How large is the audience?
- In addition to the live audience, is there an external target audience ? (e.g. on the Internet or mass media)
Speech Content and Structure
The content of the speech should be selected and organized to achieve the primary speech objective. Focus is important — extraneous information can weaken an otherwise effective argument.
Before the Speech
- Were there other speakers before this one ? Were their messages similar, opposed, or unrelated?
- How was the speaker introduced ? Was it appropriate?
- Did the introduction establish why the audience should listen to this speaker with this topic at this time ?
- What body language was demonstrated by the speaker as they approached the speaking area? Body language at this moment will often indicate their level of confidence .
The Speech Opening
Due to the primacy effect , words, body language, and visuals in the speech opening are all critical to speaking success.
- Was a hook used effectively to draw the audience into the speech? Or did the speaker open with a dry “ It’s great to be here today. “
- Did the speech open with a story ? A joke ? A startling statistic ? A controversial statement ? A powerful visual ?
- Did the speech opening clearly establish the intent of the presentation?
- Was the opening memorable ?
The Speech Body
- Was the presentation focused ? i.e. Did all arguments, stories, anecdotes relate back to the primary objective?
- Were examples or statistics provided to support the arguments ?
- Were metaphors and symbolism use to improve understanding?
- Was the speech organized logically ? Was it easy to follow?
- Did the speaker transition smoothly from one part of the presentation to the next?
The Speech Conclusion
Like the opening, the words, body language, and visuals in the speech conclusion are all critical to speaking success. This is due to the recency effect .
- Was the conclusion concise ?
- Was the conclusion memorable ?
- If appropriate, was there a call-to-action ?
Delivery Skills and Techniques
Delivery skills are like a gigantic toolbox — the best speakers know precisely when to use every tool and for what purpose.
Enthusiasm and Connection to the Audience
- Was the speaker enthusiastic ? How can you tell?
- Was there audience interaction ? Was it effective?
- Was the message you – and we-focused , or was it I- and me-focused ?
- Was humor used?
- Was it safe and appropriate given the audience?
- Were appropriate pauses used before and after the punch lines, phrases, or words?
- Was it relevant to the speech ?
Visual Aids
- Were they designed effectively?
- Did they complement speech arguments ?
- Was the use of visual aids timed well with the speaker’s words?
- Did they add energy to the presentation or remove it?
- Were they simple and easy to understand ?
- Were they easy to see ? e.g. large enough
- Would an additional visual aid help to convey the message?
Use of Stage Area
- Did the speaker make appropriate use of the speaking area?
Physical – Gestures and Eye Contact
- Did the speaker’s posture display confidence and poise?
- Were gestures natural, timely, and complementary ?
- Were gestures easy to see ?
- Does the speaker have any distracting mannerisms ?
- Was eye contact effective in connecting the speaker to the whole audience?
Vocal Variety
- Was the speaker easy to hear ?
- Were loud and soft variations used appropriately?
- Was the speaking pace varied? Was it slow enough overall to be understandable?
- Were pauses used to aid understanding, heighten excitement, or provide drama?
- Was the language appropriate for the audience?
- Did the speaker articulate clearly?
- Were sentences short and easy to understand?
- Was technical jargon or unnecessarily complex language used?
- What rhetorical devices were used? e.g. repetition, alliteration, the rule of three , etc.
Intangibles
Sometimes, a technically sound speech can still miss the mark. Likewise, technical deficiencies can sometimes be overcome to produce a must-see presentation. The intangibles are impossible to list, but here are a few questions to consider:
- How did the speech make you feel ?
- Were you convinced ?
- Would you want to listen to this speaker again?
- Were there any original ideas or techniques?
Next in the Speech Analysis Series
The next article in this series – The Art of Delivering Evaluations – examines how best to utilize speech evaluation skills as a teaching tool.
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40 comments.
I absolutely loved this article. It gave me a major idea of what to write on my speech critique. Great information, organized, and detailed!
Great post. I have to say, it was when I started to do exactly what you say that my skills took off.
If anyone wants to go farther, just teach a class on public speaking. You do not need a degree to teach continuing ed. It will help you, as some of my students who went on to teach to improve even more. This is because not only are you observing your students for these points. You are actually teaching them how to attain some of these skills.
oh my god….thank you!! i had no idea where to even start my speech analysis!
Excellent article. Will refer members of my club to it.
Dear Eugenia You refer to “members of your club” and I wanted to know an online public speaking club. Does this exist. Regards Berty
Your article is very informative. Hope you post more tips on writing a speech and how to analyse it!! 😎
Thanks for providing this information. I am writing an essay critiquing my own speech in third person. A tough task, but these pointers made it easier. Thank you.
i loved this information very much.now i am preparing for my examination and i think this article will help me to get good mark. thanks
Great summary/overview on basic things to evaluate while listening to a speech. Will be very much helpful when i have to do evaluations for speech class!
Thank you sooooo much for this article!! This is helping me soooo much for my speech analysis!
Thank you so so much! You are awesome and very helpful plus amazing too!
Great job once again! I liked the clarity with which these concepts were explained. Self explanatory and useful for both novice and advanced speakers. Keep it up!
Such a great article, thank you! It truly helped
I have to look at this for a class project and really learned some new tips from this.
This helped immensely; thank you so much!
thank you, you helped me a lot
Best article I found for speech critique and analysis. Definitely a place to come back for speech resource.
Thank you Andrew, great articles and valuable information. I recently joined a Toastmaster’s group and this will really help. Once I figure out how to “tweet” I will be “tweeting” this site to Kwantlen University Students and Alumni.
I absolutely loved this article it gave me a major idea of what to write on my speech critique great information, organized, and detailed!
Fantastic article. For someone that is new to Taostmasters this gives me at least an idea of how I should approach giving an evaluation…frigthening me more than giving a speech!! Thanks!
hi Andrew, this is a great article for someone who is a beginner to evaluate a speech. thanks a lot. -Venkat
very informative article will certainly help me to develop my speech technique.
Thus really helpful…we always read text resurfacely I gained alot from this article. now I know where to start when I want to present information through speech to the public
thank you this helped me vey much.
thanks a lot this just help me with my paper. you explain it better than my teacher
I am a toastmaster who loves to compete. I believe these articles will help me help other to deliver their speeches and both of us can grow.
Hi Andrew Dlugan, i am really happy to come across your site as new trainee in the public speaking and writing profession. i am programmer but i have passion for writing especially poems.Do you have any advice or resources to help me survive in the world of speaking and writing.
Thank You, Best Regards, Lawal Abdulateef Olawle
I came here looking for a speech review but reading this article helped me a lot in my opening speech. I hope many people who are having trouble in analysing there speech they should really open this website. Thank you
This is a helpful source to me. Thanks a lot
Great article. I am preparing to critique a public speaking competition this weekend and I found this article quite helpful Thanks a lot
Hi Andrew, May I use your article in our club newsletter? It is particularly timely as we approach the contest season in Toastmasters. I will source it to your web site and also include a link under the Articles about speaking of our club website.
John Sleigh Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
Amazing breakdown of how to not only analysis a speech but to also push yourself that inch further to get more scope for marks. I really recommend this webpage. Thank you
Thank you for this amazing information, your 6 minutes guide is great and I am learning so much with it.
Really GREAT JOB! thanks so much! Best! Rasha
I really love this and would want more of this
This information was very informative and knowledgeable.Thank you.
Your articles are very thorough. I really enjoyed reading the first one.
Can you give me some examples of relevant puns used in speeches?
One more treasure trove on the internet. Thanks for sharing DLugan.
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How to Study and Critique a Speech -A quick How to for #College Students: https://t.co/z9z7ODho2n by @6minutes — @cdbond Oct 28th, 2015
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As in all papers, the analysis must include an introduction, body, and conclusion. Start your introduction paragraph with an attention-getter or hook. Make sure your introduction includes a thesis sentence or purpose and previews the main points covered in the body. State the type of speech being analyzed and where it took place.
Revised on July 23, 2023. A rhetorical analysis is a type of essay that looks at a text in terms of rhetoric. This means it is less concerned with what the author is saying than with how they say it: their goals, techniques, and appeals to the audience. A rhetorical analysis is structured similarly to other essays: an introduction presenting ...
Introduction. "I have a dream" speech was given by Martin Luther King on 28 th August 1963. There was an audience of about 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington where the speech was given. This speech was mainly based on the freedom for the black's referred to as Negros. He was much concerned about the oppression and ...
Martin Luther King then comes to the most famous part of his speech, in which he uses the phrase 'I have a dream' to begin successive sentences (a rhetorical device known as anaphora ). King outlines the form that his dream, or ambition or wish for a better America, takes. His dream, he tells his audience, is 'deeply rooted' in the ...
The "I Have a Dream" speech is a testament to Martin Luther King Jr.'s leadership, courage, and vision. Through his words and actions, he inspired a movement that changed the course of American history and paved the way for a more just and equitable society. His legacy continues to inspire people today, reminding us of the power of hope ...
Looking for Steve Jobs Stanford commencement speech analysis? 🎓 This essay analyzes rhetorical appeals, structure, & goals of Jobs' famous speech 💬 at Stanford. ... Conclusion. In his speech, Steve Jobs achieves the main goals of the speech by focusing on ethos, logos, and pathos and by using the author's unique style. ...
Once you're finished analyzing this conclusion, take a look at Table 11.2 "Smart Dust Conclusion", which shows you how the speech was broken down into the various parts of a conclusion. Today we've explored how smart dust may impact all of our lives in the near future by. The first part of the conclusion is a restatement of the thesis ...
Finally, a speech analysis will draw a conclusion about the speech's effectiveness. A speech analysis will argue that the rhetorical choices did or did not make the speech effective for its ...
A speech analysis essay is a type of writing where you analyze a speech and discuss its effectiveness. In order to write a good speech analysis essay, you'll need to understand the four key elements of a speech: purpose, message, medium, and audience. ... The conclusion will summarize the main points of the essay and provide some final ...
Essay # 1: Rhetorical Analysis of a Speech. Length: 1000-2500 words (please single space). Task:. Using Roberts-Miller, Selzer, and Campbell as guides (and also as professional rhetorical sources to quote when needed), write an essay that rhetorically analyzes and criticizes (evaluates) one of the following speeches: Ted Kennedy's ...
5. State your thesis. Now that you've completed your analysis of the material, try to summarize it into one clear, concise thesis statement that will form the foundation of your essay. Your thesis statement should summarize: 1) the argument or purpose of the speaker; 2) the methods the speaker uses; and 3) the effectiveness of those methods ...
Studying other speakers is a critical skill, one of the 25 essential skills for a public speaker. The ability to analyze a speech will accelerate the growth of any speaker. The Speech Analysis Series is a series of articles examining different aspects of presentation analysis. You will learn how to study a speech and how to deliver an effective ...
Table of contents. Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices. Step 2: Coming up with a thesis. Step 3: Writing a title and introduction. Step 4: Writing the body of the essay. Step 5: Writing a conclusion. Other interesting articles.
The Body of your rhetorical outline is the most changeable part of the rhetorical analysis essay template. You can make a convincing argument in as little as 500 words. Or you may need more space. Don't confuse being wordy with being 'smart' or 'effective'- try to use as few words as you need to be concise and clear.
Conclusion paragraph should sums up author's conclusions. In order to learn more about correct outline structure and preferred argumentation style, have a look at some of the actual speech analysis essays. ... A speech analysis essay evaluates a speaker's message, purpose, and effectiveness by analyzing the logic, language, and delivery of a ...
Step 1: Return to your thesis. To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument. Don't just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction. Example: Returning to the thesis.
Speech Analysis. Barack Obama's wife, the America's first lady, gave a speech that showed the world the values that the president held dear. Michelle successfully used her husband's background as well as hers to convince the congregants that the American dream was real, since her husband and she had walked that path and made it to the ...
Conclusion. Nelson Mandela's speeches are a testament to his leadership and his commitment to the values of freedom, equality, and justice. This essay has analyzed one of his speeches to understand the rhetorical devices used, the tone, historical context, and key themes.The analysis has also examined the immediate and long-term impact of the speech on society.
Technology Speech Science Speech Quality Tests: An Analysis and eview of the Literature The speech measurement technology to be evaluated in this research is a speech quality test. According to the research, a speech quality test is "a routine procedure for examining one or more empirically restrictive quality features of perceived speech with the aim of making a quantitative statement on ...
Speech Analysis Essay. The puzzle of motivation by Dan Pink (TED 2009) Pink delivers a very well organized speech. He opens the speech very strongly when he states- "I need to make a confession…" - creating a mystery and drawing the audience in instantly. The hilarity woven into the opening invokes a strong amusement from the audience.
His speech not only honors the memory of the fallen astronauts but also inspires a sense of optimism and determination in the face of adversity. The Challenger Speech is a powerful example of how rhetoric can be used to bring people together and provide comfort and hope in the midst of tragedy. This essay was reviewed by.
Steve Jobs uses transformational leadership to continue the dream of changing the world positively, it is evident in this speech because the title entices followers to come listen and learn from Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs' speech 'Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish' is a great example of leadership in context. The traits, characteristics and attributes that ...
In conclusion, the rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech reveals the profound impact of its rhetorical devices in inspiring and uniting people in the fight for civil rights. The speech remains a powerful testament to the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice, continuing to resonate with audiences and ...