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I Saw It in the Movies
Dr. Trudy L. Hanson
West Texas A&M University
805-651-2800
806-651-2818 (fax)
thanson@mail.wtamu.edu
G.I.F.T.S. Presentation
National Communication Association Convention
Boston, MA 2005
Goal:
To demonstrate to students enrolled in basic public speaking the power of
public speaking as seen in famous movie speeches.
Rationale:
At West Texas A&M we have experimented with a number of methods for
providing examples of effective and ineffective public speaking to students
enrolled in our basic course. We have used videotapes which accompany textbooks.
We have linked students to publisher websites with streaming video. We have
asked students to purchase a CD rom containing examples of public speaking.
Those approaches have met with less than enthusiastic response.
We decided to turn to the American Rhetoric website http://www.americanrhetoric.com/ and link our students (both online sections and face to face sections) with selected clips from famous movie speeches. Students were asked to view the clip, answer a question that required them to apply the principle/theory being taught in class for that session and email their answers to their instructor. Since adopting this use of popular culture artifacts, we have seen an added enthusiasm in students and a better application of the principles being taught. And the best part--students do not have to t to purchase an additional textbook or a CD for this learning activity.
Directions:
The following examples demonstrate the connection we made between the topic
being studied and the movie speech. Students send their answers to their
instructors via email.
| Movie and Link (in alphabetical order on the movie site) |
Topic Addressed |
| Return of the King Listen to King Aragon's speech. How does he deal with the apprehension his followers are feeling? Do you consider his delivery confident? |
Speaker Apprehension |
| Remember the Titans Listen to Herman Boone's speech to the team. How effective is Boone in engaging the football players in listening? |
Listening |
| Malcolm X Listen to the Harlem Speech as delivered by Malcolm X. How does the speaker create unity with his audience? What does he do to identify with his audience members? |
Audience Adaptation |
| Saving Private Ryan What nonverbal elements ad power to the speech Captain John Miller is making to his troopis? |
Nonverbal comm. |
| The American President Listen to President Shepherd's press conference. How does he support his arguments? |
Supporting Arguments |
| Legally Blonde Listen to Elle Wood's speech. What attention getter does she use to spark interest in her graduation speech? |
Introductions |
| Chariots of Fire Listen to Eric Leddell's preaching at the Church of Scotland (This is the fourth entry under this movie) Comment on his delivery. How effective was his reading of the scripture? |
Language in Public Speaking |
| McArthur Listen (or watch) McArthur's Farewell Address to Congress. Comment on the language used. What makes his language so powerful? |
Language in Public Speaking |
| Judgment at Nuremberg Listen to Hans Rolfe's closing argument. What persuasive strategy does he use in his defense of Ernst Jennings? |
Persuasive Strategy |
Explanation:
By viewing the video clip and making the link between the movie speech and
the principle being taught, students are more engaged in the learning process.
The use of technology and popular culture helps us show the relevancy of the
course to their lives.
Typical Results:
We are still in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of this treatment
but early results indicate that it does relieve the symptoms of boredom an
leaves us with a prognosis of increased student learning.
