Speak up!

Table of Contents

1. About this section
2. Language change
3. Standard Australian English
4. The language of evaluation
5. Public speaking
6. The structure and features of a speech
7. A recipe for great public speaking
8. Evaluating a speech
9. Making a speech
   1. Taking a position
   2. Expressing a position
   3. Evaluating a position
10. Research
11. Preparing a speech
12. Speak up!
13. Storytelling
14. Speak up! activity
15. Copyright/Disclaimer

Taking a position

You may have heard of the term 'pole position'. It is generally to refer to the most favourable position at the start of a horse or motor race.

In an argumentative or persuasive speech (or essay) you also take a position on an issue. It is your key (or favoured) argument; your opinion on the issue. Your position is expressed in a thesis statement.

For example, your teacher may ask your class to plan and present a talk about an environmental issue.

This is a very open task; there are many environmental issues to choose from, for example:

• air pollution
• littering
• global warming
• salinity
• cane toads
• logging
• genetically modified foods.

You may decide to speak about conservation.

• This is a very broad topic, so you may decide to narrow it down to examine marine conservation programs in Australia.
  
• This is still a very broad topic! So you may decide to narrow it down even further to the conservation of sea turtles in Western Australia.
  
• This is still a broad topic! So you may narrow it down even further and examine the conservation of flatback turtles in Western Australia.
  
• Even now there are many issues to explore, so you may narrow your topic down even further to examine the impact of commercial fishing on flatback turtle populations.
  

You may take the position that 'the greatest threat to the survival of flatback turtles is commercial fishing'. This is an example of a thesis statement. It clearly expresses your position concerning the role of commercial fishing in endangering flatback turtles.

In your speech you need to present arguments to prove this position and present supporting facts to convince your audience to believe you.

1

Which of these sentences is a thesis/position statement? Select the correct answer from those provided. a) Development that destroys the habitats of sea turtles and endangers their survival should be limited. Choose... This is a supporting fact, not a position statement. This is a thesis statement. b) The construction of sea walls, jetties and tourist developments change and destroy important sea turtle feeding grounds and nesting sites. Choose... This is a supporting fact, not a position statement. This is a thesis statement. Well done.Think carefully about which sentence expresses an opinion and which presents a fact.Your answer has been saved.

2

Which of these sentences is a thesis/position statement? Select the correct answer from those provided. a) The mining industry has brought many benefits to Western Australia and its economy, but also poses a threat to its environment. Choose... This is a supporting fact, not a position statement. This is a thesis statement. b) To manage this threat on Barrow Island, mining companies have established the Northwest Shelf Flatback Turtle Conservation and Intervention Programs to protect the local turtle populations. Choose... This is a supporting fact, not a position statement. This is a thesis statement. c) Conservation and protection programs should be compulsory for all mining explorations. Choose... This is a supporting fact, not a position statement. This is a thesis statement. Well done.Think carefully about which sentence expresses an opinion and which presents a fact.Your answer has been saved.

3

Which of these sentences is a thesis/position statement? Select the correct answer from those provided. a) Each year ghost nets (tangles of fishing gear lost or thrown overboard from fishing boats) drift through the oceans trapping and killing huge numbers of marine creatures. Choose... This is a supporting fact, not a position statement. This is a thesis statement. b) The greatest threat to the survival of Australian marine turtles is commercial fishing. Choose... This is a supporting fact, not a position statement. This is a thesis statement. Well done.Think carefully about which sentence expresses an opinion and which presents a fact.Your answer has been saved.