Objective: To learn about candidates for a political office by presenting and listening to speeches about the candidates and their platforms Type of speech: Informative Point value: 100 points, which is 10% of course grade Requirements: (a) References: Minimum of 3 from recent and varying publications; (b) Length: 5-7 minutes; (c) Visual aid: No; (d) Outline: Yes; (e) Prerequisite reading: No; (f) Additional requirements: None In a typical college-level public speaking class, many students are young adults who have the opportunity, perhaps for the first time, to vote for candidates for national, state, and local offices. Yet, adults in the 18-24 age group are the least likely to vote due to a lack of time, low interest, or cynicism about politics (National Public Radio, 2002). This speech provides student-citizens with (1) information about candidates that can help them determine if or for whom they will vote, (2) the opportunity to discuss their perceptions of political processes with peers, and (3) the experience of crafting an informative speech using up-to-date information.
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