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Heather Best

SPCH 3320

Dr. McIntyre

March 9, 2017

Persuasive Speech of Fact: Peer Critique Assignment

In this paper, I will discuss Sydneys Speech of Fact on Language

Barriers in America.

I will talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the speech, as well as if she

met the required goals of persuasive speaking.

Sydney chose a very relevant topic on language barriers in America. I

thought it was very insightful that she would choose this topic. Im not sure if

it is the state of immigration policy in America, or perhaps personal

experience, that made her concerned with the need for our country to be

more aware and accepting of language barriers, but I thought it was

appropriate and relevant. She had a great listener relevance link as well.

I thought Sydneys structural organization was done very well. I noticed

her introduction, thesis, main points, transitions, and conclusion were all part

of her speech and well-crafted. I understood what problem she was talking

about specifically and the ways in which it causes problems for those with

language barrier issues.

Sydney used appropriate citations to back up what she was saying. Her

PowerPoint was good and she did a good job of staying calm when it messed

up for a few seconds. Her voice quality was clear, she made eye contact with
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the audience, and she was dressed appropriately. I thought her delivery was

done very well. She also stayed within the time limits.

I like that she brought up health care as an important area in which

language barriers need to be addressed. Sydney had an interest in learning

foreign language for fun and, as she grew older, saw the need for better

interpreters which caused her to want to learn a foreign language for the

service of others. I loved that passion and drive.

One thing I didnt feel as much from the speech was a sense of

urgency. I think this is because her speech was a bit halted as she tried to

remember what came next. She presented the material well, and given the

time restraints, she got in a lot of information, but I would have been more

affected if her tone was more urgent or impassioned. I also would have liked

more examples from actual people about how language barriers have

affected them, but, again, given the time restraints, she did a great job of

providing us with adequate information to prove there is a problem. I think

the speech was effective because she made a good case that language

barriers are a real problem in America.

Now that I have discussed my initial analysis and impressions, I want to

talk about Sydneys speech as a persuasive speech of fact.

Sydney gathered relevant materials (J. Michael Hogan, 2014, p. 48).

She used multiple, well-known sources that proved her claim that language

barriers are an issue in America that needs our attention.

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Sydney also constructed a reasonable argument (J. Michael Hogan,

2014, p. 49). You should seek information that will connect your topic with

your audiences feelings, needs, and emotionswhat is often referred to as

pathosand that makes logical sense (J. Michael Hogan, 2014, p. 49).

Sydney talked about language barriers creating issues that didnt allow

people to get adequate health care or education. A lot of people can relate to

getting inadequate health care or education because of miscommunication.

It is not a far jump to feel the pain of people being disadvantaged in these

areas because of a language barrier. Her emotional appeal was backed up by

evidence.

Sydney followed the principles of give your message structure (J.

Michael Hogan, 2014, p. 50). You should introduce your speech by relating

your topic to your audience (J. Michael Hogan, 2014, p. 50). Sydney did

this superbly by asking her audience to look around at each other and

imagine that they couldnt have a conversation with them because of a

language barrier. For your audience to follow your ideas, those ideas must

relate to one another logically (J. Michael Hogan, 2014, p. 50). Sydney did

this very well, going from the fact that language barriers exist and are a

problem and then transitioning into the effects that has on the people who

live with a language barrier.

Sydney also [spoke] directly with her audience (J. Michael Hogan,

2014, p. 51). The text says good delivery, in most contexts, is

conversational and relaxed (J. Michael Hogan, 2014, p. 51). This is the only
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area that I felt like could have been a little better. Sydney did speak to the

audience and she didnt read from her notes, however, I did not feel like the

speech was relaxed. As I mentioned above, the halting conversation of her

speech made it feel less urgent.

In conclusion, Sydney had a relevant and well-reasoned argument. Her

structure and content were very good. I liked her speech and I feel more

educated on the subject as a result.

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References
J. Michael Hogan, P. H. (2014). Public Speaking and CIvic Engagement. Upper Saddle

River: Pearson.