Posture refers to the position in which you are sitting or standing.

A gesture is a movement of the body, usually performed to express an idea or meaning.

Pitch refers to the relative highness and lowness of voice when speaking.

A speech’s tone refers to its overall mood or feeling.

When given a speech, pace refers to the speed at which you are saying the words.

Delivering a persuasive speech about a new word

English

A history of the English language

Reading an Anglo-Saxon Bible extract

Comparing the Lord's Prayer over time

Exploring how a word's meaning can change over time

Creating a new word

Planning a persuasive speech about a new word

Writing a persuasive speech about a new word

In 'A History of Language' students gain an understanding of the way in which English has evolved over time. In 'Perspectives on Gender', students also consider how language has been shaped by historical and social factors.

In 'Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories', students practise argumentative speaking as part of role-playing a court case. In 'A History of Language',  students also argue to justify the addition of their new word to the dictionary.   

In this unit, pupils explore the history of the English Language. They first learn about the development of the English Language, before using a single word and the Lord's Prayer to explore how language changes. They then plan, write and deliver a persuasive speech about a new word.

A history of language

What is being described here? A movement of the body, usually performed to express an idea or meaning.

Tone generally refers to what in a speech?

The changes in the highness and lowness of your voice. What is being described here?

It builds the tension to the reveal of the word.

It is typical to structure anecdotes in this way.

It makes it more engaging as the sentence length is varied.

'The car pulls into the drive. We park. I can only be feeling one thing. Hometicipation.' The end to this speech uses lots of short sentences. What effect does this have?

Varyingly, with your gaze surveying your audience in a general way.

Sparingly, barely looking at your audience at all.

Intensely, focusing in on just one member of the audience.

Rarely, you should mainly be looking at your notes.

Which of the statements best describes how eye contact should be used in a speech?

When delivering a speech my posture should be...

'At the start of our speeches we should ____ our audience with an engaging opening? What 'h' word is missing here?

Speech, to entertain, parents and teachers

Deliver a speech to your classmates on why you should be elected to the student council? What is the form, purpose and audience of this task?

Fellow students, welcome to my speech on climate change

How can we stand idly by knowing our planet is in crisis?

I remember the white snow, blue skies and grey of the ocean.

Match these devices to the correct speech openings.

the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting.

the body language someone has when delivering a speech.

the way a speaker makes the audience feel.

the words, phrases and language a speaker uses.

What is the correct definition of posture? Here it is used in a sentence: 'She maintained excellent posture while giving her presentation.'

a movement of the body, usually performed to express an idea or meaning.

the position in which a person delivers speech.

anything non-verbal that a person does when speaking.

the general emotional state of a person giving a speech.

What is the correct definition of the word 'gesture'? Here it is used in a sentence: 'She made a warm gesture as she welcomed the crowd'.

Starter Quiz

'At the start of our speeches we should ____ our audience with an engaging opening? What 'h' word is missing here?