Objective:

• Develop an entertaining dramatic talk about an experience or incident
• Include vivid imagery, characters, and dialog
• Deliver the talk in an entertaining manner

Assignment

For this project, prepare, rehearse and deliver a five to seven minute dramatic speech, including narration, as you set the scene and describe what is taking place, and dialogue between characters. Use your own experience or imagination. Your speech purpose is to entertain.

As you develop the story, keep these points in mind:

• Describe the setting (time, place, circumstances) quickly and concisely, omitting unnecessary details
• Make clear the nature of the conflict or difficulty that had to be overcome
• Personalize the story to attract and maintain listeners’ interest
• Build realistic images and characters through imagery
• Establish a mood of excitement and drama from the beginning
• Keep the story moving and building
• End with a powerful climax

Speech 1 of 3 in an 8 day period. I was nervous doing a speech that was completely out of my comfort zone. I make people smile, laugh, and occasionally shake their heads – especially at Stone Road Toastmasters. To invoke strong emotion on a serious topic is something new for me. “The End of Water” was completely outside the box of anything I had ever considered. I ended to sheer silence. (Almost) never have I been so flattered than when a guest referred to me as a “Thespian”. I don’t think I have ever been as flattered during a meeting.