Preparing a Speech  task 1 In this task, you will select a topic for a speech,

Preparing a Speech  task 1
In this task, you will select a topic for a speech, research the topic, and submit a plan for your speech
Part B
Identify at least five online or print sources that provide relevant information or opinions that support or develop your stance on the topic. It’s okay if your research leads to a change in your views. What’s important is that you should be able to support your stance with evidence and reasoning. You can use both primary and secondary sources in this activity. Remember, a primary source contains an eyewitness’s account of an event (e.g., a letter or diary) or actual data from an experiment or a survey that the authors conducted. A secondary source summarizes or synthesizes information from primary sources (e.g., essays or reviews).
Before you decide to use a source to plan your speech, assess its quality and relevance. Read through the following articles on assessing sources of information:
Locating and Assessing Sources
Evaluating Sources
Evaluating Information on the Internet
Guide to Oral Presentations: Research
List the sources you chose for your work on the word-processing document. Describe why you have chosen each resource, how it relates to the issue, and how it supports your stance. Your teacher will review your document and provide feedback on the resources.
Part C
A thesis statement in a persuasive speech captures the main idea of the speech and makes the speaker’s viewpoint clear to the audience. Create a thesis statement that clearly addresses and answers the question you chose in task 1. Your thesis statement should be original. It should specify your topic as much as possible and clearly reflect your opinion on the topic. Your speech as a whole will focus on elaborating, clarifying, and supporting the thesis statement.
Your introduction should include the thesis statement and should pull your reader into your speech, showing the audience why they should care about this topic. The body of the speech is where you develop your main ideas and provide supporting evidence and arguments. You should consider any counterarguments to your position and address those positions when necessary. Work with the resources you consulted by quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing them. Use appropriate citations wherever needed. Finally, your conclusion should not only summarize the main points of the paper but also leave readers with a message that gives the speech a sense of completeness.
The ideas in your speech should flow in a smooth sequence, and your speech as a whole should be focused on your thesis. Use a variety of phrases and clauses to add interest to your speech. Avoid deviations from your main topic.