Personal Experience Speech
Due Date_________________
Time Limit: 3 - 5 minutes                
Point Value: 60 points    
Goal: To relate a story about an experience of something that happened to you

Notecards: You NEED to write out the intro and conclusion--to get the required elements in.  Try the rest from notes.  You should be able to just tell the story.

I.    Topic Choice
      A.    Needs to be a story that really happened to you and something that you can actually
              remember.
      B.    Can be funny, serious, scary, sad, weird, embarrassing, etc.
      C.    Try to pick something that is significant/important/memorable in some way
      D.    Ideas: a field trip, a holiday event, a major life event, a death, a birth, a change in your family, learning a new skill, a                   trip/visit to somewhere/someone, moving, sports events/injuries, a performance, a school-related activity, trouble you               got into, an accident

II.    Introduction Requirements
       A.    Should include a distinct and separate attention-getter.  Don’t just launch into the story.
       B.    MUST include the type of experience and your primary emotion(s) in a focus statement.
               Examples: “Moving to a new town can be a scary experience for a five-year-old.”  OR
               “Nothing is so embarrassing as running the wrong way on the football field in the middle of a
                 game against Marquette.”  Don’t leave us guessing at the topic of your speech.  State it up front.

III.    Body Requirements
         A.    Include appropriate background details about time and place.  How old were you?  What
                 year?  Where did this happen?
         B.    Include appropriate background on the people involved.  Don’t assume we know the
                 family or friends who are part of your story.  Give us some details on them and on your
                 relationship with them.  (Change names if you think it is necessary.)
         C.    Should include events in chronological order.  To get started, simply write down the events
                 in the order that they happened.
         D.    Must include your thoughts and feelings about the experience.  Don’t just tell us what
                 happened.  Explain what you were thinking at the time or how you felt about it.  This
                 requirement can make or break you in terms of TIME.
 
IV.    Conclusion Requirements
        A.    You really don’t need a summary in this one.  Make some general conclusions instead.
        B.    Should include why this event was important to you and/or how this experience affected you
                or others.  Be thoughtful and creative.  Watch out for brief conclusions, too.

TIPS
1.    Don’t go out and get into trouble, etc.,  just to have an experience to write about!!!
2.    If the memory is recent and painful, consider whether or not you will be able to talk about this
       event without your emotions getting the best of you.  Consider other topics.
3.    If the event is embarrassing or one that caused  trouble, consult those other people before using their
       names and possibly reopening trouble or gossip.
4.    I DO NOT want to hear stories about drinking binges, drug trips, or sexual experiences.  KEEP
       THEM CLEAN!