Tomia Willingham : Public Speaking Assessment Tools

Name Tomia Willinghamcoursepublic Speakingassessmenttouchstone 3fil

Name: Tomia Willingham Course: Public Speaking Assessment: Touchstone 3 File: WIN__10_00_26_Pro.mp4 Touchstone 3 Rubric and Feedback Rubric Category Feedback Score Organization Speech structure meets all requirements; however, some support is missing, or one element of Monroe's Motivated Sequence is not represented. 20/25 Acceptable Persuasive Speech takes a stance on an issue and the arguments and approach are primarily persuasive in nature. 15/20 Acceptable Use of Appeals Only uses two kinds of appeals 12/20 Needs Improvement Balance of Appeals Uses one type of appeal effectively, however the other appeals are underused, used ineffectively, or absent. 12/20 Needs Improvement Language Language is frequently unclear or inconsistent with the audience and often fails to help the audience connect with the speaker or the topic.

10/20 Needs Improvement Tomia, It is not clear what your thesis is in this speech, other than the broad claim that institutional racism can be addressed by reforming the education system. You mention the last names of Shirley Ann Tate and Paul Bagguley who, I found out, have written on this topic. Other than that, there were no source citations, use of visual supports, or a persuasive call to action. You stated these author’s opinions as if they were facts, without offering the arguments they made in support of these claims. These claims clearly have merit, but your appeals to pathos and ethos can be much stronger. So, the appeal to logos is stronger, but pathos is what gets people to listen to and evaluate your arguments. Using charts, pictures and personal testimony can illustrate your points and engage the audience at an emotional level. Be sure to cite your sources clearly and conclude with some actions you are persuading the audience to take. Use of visual aids is also a requirement of your Unit 4 speech. Finally, the language and delivery of the speech were sometimes difficult to follow and long pauses interrupted the flow of the narrative. It is important you incorporate the feedback and recommendations given here into your next speech, because Improvement counts for 1/3 of the grading points. I look forward to seeing it! Professor Davis Overall Score: 64/100

Paper For Above instruction

Addressing Institutional Racism through Reformed Education: A Persuasive Speech Analysis

Institutional racism remains a persistent barrier to equality within societies worldwide. The need to reform educational systems to combat this issue is both urgent and complex. This essay critically analyzes a persuasive speech by Tomia Willingham that tackles this pressing social problem, evaluates its strengths and weaknesses using a structured assessment, and offers recommendations for improvement aligned with effective persuasive communication principles.

Introduction

Effective public speaking on social issues requires clarity of purpose, compelling arguments, appropriate appeals, and engaging delivery. The speech delivered by Tomia Willingham seeks to address the pervasive issue of institutional racism by advocating for systemic reforms within the education sector. However, according to feedback, her speech demonstrates areas for refinement, such as clearer thesis articulation, stronger appeals, inclusion of visual aids, and better delivery techniques. This analysis aims to explore these dimensions, emphasizing the importance of a well-structured argument supported by credible evidence and emotional engagement to persuade the audience effectively.

Organization and Structure

One fundamental aspect of persuasive speaking is organization. Willingham's speech partially adheres to the principles of Monroe’s Motivated Sequence, a widely recognized framework for compelling persuasion comprising five steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action. While her speech maintains a logical flow and addresses the need for reform, it misses some elements such as clear identification of a call to action and robust support for claims. The lack of citations and visual supports further diminishes the clarity and impact of the message. To enhance organization, speakers should ensure each element of Monroe's sequence is fully developed and explicitly linked to the call to action, providing tangible steps for the audience.

Persuasiveness and Argumentation

Willingham's speech takes a primarily persuasive stance by addressing the broad issue of institutional racism through education reform. While she effectively outlines the importance of tackling systemic bias, the arguments remain somewhat abstract and lack specific supporting evidence. Her invocation of prominent authors like Shirley Ann Tate and Paul Bagguley hints at scholarly backing, yet the absence of direct quotations, citations, or paraphrasing weakens credibility. Stronger persuasive speeches incorporate explicit evidence, citing authoritative sources to support claims and demonstrating the logical connection between evidence and arguments. In this case, integrating key findings from the referenced authors with proper citations would reinforce her logos appeal effectively.

Use of Emotional and Ethical Appeals

According to feedback, Willingham predominantly relies on logos, the logical appeal, which is crucial but insufficient alone to persuade. The feedback emphasizes the need to bolster pathos—emotional appeal—and ethos—credibility. Incorporating personal stories, testimonies, or visual elements like charts and photographs could evoke emotional responses and humanize the issue. For example, sharing personal testimonies from students affected by educational inequities can concretize abstract concepts and foster audience empathy. Additionally, citing reputable sources and demonstrating familiarity with scholarly literature enhances credibility and ethos, establishing Willingham as a knowledgeable advocate.

Language and Delivery

Effective delivery complements well-structured content. Feedback indicates that Willingham’s speech suffered from unclear language, difficult transitions, and lengthy pauses disrupting the narrative flow. To improve, she should practice pacing, articulate her points clearly, and utilize expressive intonation to maintain audience engagement. Using visual aids during her speech, such as slides or charts, can also aid comprehension and retention. Ensuring that language aligns with the audience’s level and interests fosters connection and persuasion.

Recommendations for Future Speeches

To address these identified weaknesses, future speeches should prioritize the following:

• Develop a clear and concise thesis statement that explicitly states the proposed reforms and their significance.
• Integrate credible sources with proper citations to strengthen logos and build trust.
• Use visual aids like slides, charts, or images to illustrate key points and evoke emotional responses.
• Include specific examples or personal stories to engage the audience emotionally.
• Practice delivery techniques to eliminate long pauses and ensure clear articulation.
• Conclude with a compelling call to action, guiding the audience toward concrete steps.

Conclusion

The effectiveness of persuasive speeches hinges on a combination of clear organization, robust evidence, emotional resonance, and confident delivery. Willingham’s speech on institutional racism highlights essential points but requires significant enhancements to fully persuade and motivate action. By incorporating credible evidence, engaging visuals, emotional storytelling, and polished delivery, future speeches can inspire meaningful change in addressing systemic inequalities. Continuous improvement and adherence to proven rhetorical strategies are vital for compelling advocacy and social impact.

References

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• Shirley Ann Tate. (2019). The politics of cultural blackness. The Black Scholar, 49(1), 12–20.
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