Description
Speech 3: Demonstration
Length: 10-12 minutes
Purpose: to inform; possibly to persuade or entertain
Research: If sharing historical details and fun facts about the topic, verbal citations are required!
Directions:
The Speech of Demonstration requires you to show the audience how to do something or how something operates.
Topics Considerations: As always, there needs to be a personal connection between you and the topic. While you do not need to be a professional or an expert, select a topic in which you have some skill – even if a developing one! This is usually explained in the introduction and your experiences shared along the way. Connections to family, neighborhood and culture greatly enhance your credibility!
What you are doing is teaching your audience; think DIY and how-to! You Tube has no shortage of examples!
Suggested (but not limited to!) Categories:
grooming (hair care/styling, make-up, organic products you can make at home, nails)
fitness/sports cooking meal prep home repair/decorating martial arts/self-defense
crafts self-care bicycle/car repair and maintenance activities for children
music/ dance fashion/style lesson (language, poetry, spoken word, etc.) a game
activities while we self-isolate during a pandemic first-aid/safety science experiment
cultural topics (fashion, dance, music, ceremony, ritual, recipe) sewing, knitting, crocheting
table etiquette (setting a table, ordering in a restaurant, using chopsticks, etc.) saving money
Topics to avoid: how to play a video game and other topics involving technology that prevent eye contact and actual demonstration but instead rely on software.
Introduction – Remember the three functions:
gain the audience’s attention
establish connections between speaker and topic and audience and topic (This is where you usually establish your credibility. Stories work well here!)
help your audience to anticipate the contents of the demonstration by stressing the usefulness and relevance of the topic. (This can be your thesis.)
At the end of your introduction, there should be some statement of thesis that includes the process or procedure about to be demonstrated and its usefulness and relevance.
Examples:
In my speech, I am going to demonstrate how you can get that barbershop look at home.
I am going to demonstrate how to make a nutritious and delicious meal for your family in under 15 minutes.
Repurposing old greeting cards to create new ones is a creative, inexpensive and green way to show people in our lives that we care.
Today, I am going to show you how to save a life using CPR.
Reminder: Demonstration is primarily an informative speech, so there should be some discussion of the topic’s history, connection to speaker (family, culture) and fun facts along the way (“Did you know …?) in order to avoid “dead time” where the audience just watches you demonstrate in silence.
Body
This will largely consist of the actual demonstration. The more you show, rather than just explain, the more successful the demonstration will be. A clear explanation and simultaneous demonstration is expected, so provide precise directions. Tips and suggestions (about supplies, ingredients, steps) are important as well as discussion of usefulness and relevance (nutrition facts, saving money, being resourceful for instance). A temporal organization of ideas is typical for this speech.
Remember to use transitions of time such as first, second, third, etc., after, before, next, meanwhile, last, finally. I highly recommend the use of an internal preview (to preview materials, stages, final result) and summary (remind audience of previous steps)!
Conclusion
Repeat steps and remind listeners of the usefulness and relevance of the topic. Strive to have a clincher or memorable closing statement as a take-away for your audience (If stumped, how about a thoughtful quotation?). In order to provide cohesion, return to your attention-getter or another detail from your introduction. View your speech as a journey in which you return to where you started; the speech is an exploration of the topic.
Delivery
NOTE: You are expected to be present for all or most of the presentation. Any voiceover (in consolidating or accompanying steps) must be kept to a minimum.
Movement: You are not confined to a small space, but are encouraged to move around but make sure your audience is able to see you at all times. All materials and steps need to be visible to the entire audience.
Gestures should illustrate your ideas.
Eye contact should be maintained as you demonstrate.
Avoid “dead time” by speaking and moving throughout the demonstration. Personal details and fun facts (“Did you know ….) are effective ways to fill the time.
Presentation aids are expected. These may include using yourself and/or members of your family and household, tools, supplies and materials, a final result, and slides.
This chapter from our FREE handbook will be helpful in providing guidelines for the use of presentation aids.
“Preparing and Using Visual Aids” (Entire section will be useful!)
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-communications/chapter/the-value-of-sensory-enhancements/ (Links to an external site.)
Verbal Citation of Sources
Sources are not required; however, if you conduct research for fun facts or the history of the process, then verbal citations are required.
Here are links that explain and illustrate how to verbally cite your sources in a speech:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB244Krb6hMLinks to an external site.
https://libguides.spokanefalls.edu/cite/verbal (Links to an external site.)
Student Samples
Student Samples
1. student, John, demonstrates how to trim our beards and get those nice edges at home during lockdown when barber shops were closed due to the pandemic. Please note his use of presentation aids as he leads us around his face in this grooming demonstration. Excellent topic selection and recognition of our shared experience during the pandemic. Note: His speech is done in one take – no edits!
Grooming DemonstrationLinks to an external site.
2. student, Shellronda, leads us through a cooking demonstration that results in a two yummy-looking finger foods. Note the way she uses presentation aids and includes family members when serving the snacks in the conclusion. Excellent structure and editing to meet the time limit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWf5Uj30tbk&feature=youtu.be Links to an external site.
3. student, Armani, walks us through his marinara recipe that he picked up in Italy and even suggests a wine pairing! Although his thesis does not state the usefulness and relevance of the topic and his conclusion is brief, he does an excellent job in demonstrating the recipe making clear use of the presentation aids!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gB7SHap0H8&feature=emb_logoLinks to an external site.
4. student, Kimberely, demonstrates a long-lasting and protective hairstyle on her daughter. The speaker makes excellent use of the time and presentation aids.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KklIUqVSmbU&feature=youtu.beLinks to an external site.
5. student, Mahamadou, demonstrates how to make a paper boat. In this charming demonstration, the speaker connects the craft to his childhood. Note how he opens the speech with the personal story and returns to it in the conclusion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuKaJWW0oZULinks to an external site.
6. student, Angelina, demonstrates how to make a holiday ornament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fodVcgt-EMgLinks to an external site.
7. student, Aidan, demonstrates how to make cultured butter. Outstanding use of presentation aids as well as clear statement of thesis (process + its usefulness and relevance) and sturcture. Note how informative the content is! remember, demonstration is a type of informative speech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovDJ6D7FB5oLinks to an external site.
Rubric
Demonstration Speech Critique Rubric
Demonstration Speech Critique Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePurposeSpeech has a clear thesis (states process and its usefulness and relevance); supporting detail that illustrates the steps and is relevant to thesis. Speech clearly addresses the rhetorical mode (just as much show as tell). Personal connection is clearly established. Length is approximately 10 – 12 minutes.
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeStructureSpeech is clearly and logically organized with a clear beginning, middle and end. The introduction has an interesting attention getter, establishes speaker credibility and provides background on the process leading logically into the thesis and preview. All steps clearly explained and demonstrated. Informative information such as fun facts, tips and suggestions and history accompany demonstration . Conclusion gives a recap and/or restatement of thesis and feeling of closure possibly returning to the attention-getter.
20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCredibilityAll sources are cited both verbally and in slides, if used; credible sources are used; quality research has been conducted. For demonstration speech, personal credibility (expertise, personal connection to the topic) is clearly established.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeEye-contactEye-contact with camera (and therefore audience) is maintained throughout to establish connection; speaker looks at audience while demonstrating and avoids reading from cards entirely.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeVoice/PhysicalityVoice projects clearly, diction is precise, pace is appropriate. Body language (posture, gestures, movement) is poised, confident and appropriate while demonstrating. Posture is erect. Appearnace is appropriate. Presentation aids enhance audience’s understanding of the topic.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTransitions/FlowSmooth transitions are made from point to point; these transitions have clearly been planned in advanced and well-rehearsed. Speaker uses a variety of transitions: transitional expressions, questions, inter previews and summaries.
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeLanguageStudent uses appropriate language choices (especially descriptive) for the topic and audience. Language is clear and correctly used. Grammar is correct, and tone is appropriate. Speaker strikes a balance between sounding authoritative and conversational. Speaker avoids “dead” time or awkward pauses during the demonstration, speaking to the audience along the way (fun facts, personal details, tips/suggestions).
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeRecordingClarity and volume of the recording enable the audience to view the speech with ease. All gestures and body movement used in the demonstration are visible. There is a minimum of edits. Background, both visual and auditory, are relatively free of distractions.
10 pts
Total Points: 100
