Speech Communications

1. Speech Communications Tickle the Funny Bone: Speech to Entertain

2. Word Bank • anecdote • impersonation • irony • parody • punch line • puns • restraint • unique

3. Brain Teasers • What is the purpose of a speech to entertain? • Besides humor, what other material can be used in a speech to entertain? • What holds together a speech to entertain? • What requirements must humor meet in a speech to entertain? • What are some of the types of humor? • How do you introduce jokes in a speech? • When an audience laughs at a joke, what do you do?

4. What is the purpose of a speech to entertain? • Most speeches to entertain appeal to the audience’s sense to humor • entertainment can also be provided by novel or unique information, anecdotes on unusual people, or an exciting dramatic description of events. • The basic requirement is that the speaker holds audience attention in a pleasant way.

5. Besides humor, what other material can be used in a speech to entertain? • Unique stories • Verses • Ancedotes

6. What holds together a speech to entertain? • Not a series of jokes • serious line of thought around which your speech will romp. • Progress from an underlying serious theme, always there but never dominating • Unique stories • Verses • anecdotes

7. What requirements must humor meet in a speech to entertain? • Make sure it relates to your subject • Is in good taste • Don’t tell off-color jokes

8. What are some of the types of humor? • Exaggeration (Overstatement) • A group of golfers were telling tall stories. “Once,” said a golfer, “I drove a ball, accidentally of course, through a cottage window. The ball knocked over a candle and the place caught on fire.” • “What did you do?” asked his friends. • “Oh,” said the golfer, “I immediately teed another ball, took careful aim, and hit the fire alarm on Main Street. That brought out the fire trucks before any damage was done.”

9. What are some of the types of humor? • Surprise Turns (start out by saying the normal thing and end up by saying something unexpected.) • “If at first you don’t succeed, try something else.” • “Roses are red, Violets are blue, Orchids are $16.95, Will dandelions do?”

10. What are some of the types of humor? • Irony (say something so the opposite meaning is implied) • A gushy society matron was talking to a famous author at a party. “Oh,” she exclaimed, “yesterday I walked right past your house.” • “Thank you so much, madame,” said the relieved author.

11. What are some of the types of humor? • Parody (Treat serious material absurdly and trivial material seriously.) • Beware of calling yourself an expert. One definition of expert is that an “ex” is a has-been and a “spurt” is a drip under pressure.” • Pun (use words with double meanings or those which sound like words of different meanings) • It is easy for people to make monkeys of themselves just by carrying tales.

12. How do you introduce jokes in a speech? • Say the punch lines of jokes clearly and slowly so your audience will catch them • Learn the correct sequence of events (“Oh, I forgot to tell you something you need to know before I continue.”)

13. When an audience laughs at a joke, what do you do? • It is usually best not to laugh at your own jokes • If you do laugh, keep it restrained • let your laughter follow rather than precede that of the audience. • If the audience laughs loudly at a joke, avoid continuing your speech until the laughter starts to diminish.

14. Word Bank • anecdote • impersonation • irony • parody • punch line • puns • restraint • unique

15. Assignment • 2-4 minute speech to entertain • One source is required • Outline speech on activity sheet

16. How to Prepare • Analyze audience • Select a topic • Speech; not a humorous reading or impersonation • Look primarily to personal experience, unique or unusual happenings in life, interesting jobs you have had, or unusual people you have met • Determine point you want to make--serious line of thought around which your speech will romp. • Gather your material. • Organize using this pattern: • Capture, point-support, action • Write outline on activity sheet • Rehearse • Gestures, facial expressions, pantomime • Consider using visual aids • Posters, articles and costume pieces

17. Topic Ideas • Dogs and people they own. • The joys of city living. • Nearsighted people have troubles. • Vacations, who needs them? • How to attract attention effectively. • Chewing gum: a national menace. • Ice skating (skiing, etc.) in one easy lesson. • Shopping: the weekly hazard. • The art of eating pizza. • The fish that got away. • How to be a howling success. • Words don’t mean what they say. • Baby sitting--the domestic battlefield. • Silence is not always golden. • My life with a computer. • The born loser. • A look at modern art.

18. How to Present • Keep manner lively, pleasant, confident • Stick to prepared speech, but if you can add something impromptu that fits, do so. • It’s best not to laugh at your own jokes. • If you do laugh, keep it restrained • Let laughter follow rather than precede that of the audience • Avoid continuing speech until laughter starts to diminish.