Reference no: EM132337355

Assignment: Activity: This week you have the opportunity to analyze the communications in a TED Talk.

TED Talks are curated video presentations. Speakers are selected for their expertise and for the value of the content. These talks are designed to present information and expose audiences to varying points of view. Thus, the content should have sufficient substance to stimulate discussion, and the video quality allows critique of the speaker.

Your task for week 4 is to:

First, select a TED Talk on a topic that interests you from the 1,000 plus available. Talks range in length from 3 to 18 minutes. Choosing a longer one will give you more material on which to base your analysis. (The reason for the 18-minute limit is because that is considered the maximum time for optimum audience attention. Longer than that, our minds begin to wander.)

Second, review chapters 10, 11 and 12 of your text.

Third, listen to the presentation several times, paying close attention to how the speaker uses non-verbal communication, composes sentences, organizes thoughts, and engages the audience. Use the outline below to structure your analysis:

1. Purpose: General and specific purpose (and implied if different from stated purpose)

2. Non-verbal delivery

• Speakers movements during the presentation

• Visual aids

3. Strategies for Success

• Pathos: tone, emphasis, engagement

• Logos: clarity, conciseness, arrangement

• Ethos: credibility, expectation, reference

4. Style

• Appeals (to emotions, rationality, intelligence, etc.)

• Figurative language (similes, metaphors, symbols, imagery)

• Use of language, word choices

• Diction or accent

• Passive or active voice

• Simple or complex sentences

5. Oral strategies and tactics

• Music

• Volume

• Speech patterns (articulation, intonation, emphasis)

• Other sound effects

Fourth, develop your analysis using the variables in the five categories above. Develop your arguments and conclusions thoroughly. When you post your analysis, include the name of the presenter, the title of the Talk, and the URL so that others can view the video.

Enjoy the experience!

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