Spoken Language (AQA)

Understanding the Assessment

• Formal: Your presentation should be planned and organised, using Standard Spoken English. It is delivered to an audience, usually including your teacher and is recorded.

• Extended: You need to develop your ideas on a specific topic in detail, ensuring substantial content and length. The presentation itself has a maximum duration of 10 minutes, including questions.

• Individual: The topic choice is yours, and the presentation is prepared and delivered independently.

• Presentation: This is about direct communication and performance designed to engage your audience. You also need to respond to questions effectively, demonstrating your knowledge, understanding, and thinking.

Key Skills and Assessment Objectives

The assessment focuses on several key skills, often framed within an "oracy framework" encompassing:

• Communicating Original Ideas: You should present your own thoughts, arguments, and opinions.

  • Example: Instead of just describing climate change, offer your own perspective on the most pressing issue within climate change, like "the disproportionate impact on developing nations" and argue why this is crucial.

• Developing Ideas with Examples: Support your points with carefully chosen examples and explanations, offering your own interpretations.

  • Example: If arguing for the importance of voting, don't just say "voting is important." Instead, provide a statistic about low voter turnout in a specific demographic and explain the potential consequences, linking it back to your main argument.

• Understanding Viewpoint and Perspective: Show awareness of how different viewpoints shape communication.

  • Example: When discussing social media and mental health, acknowledge both the positive aspects of connection and community alongside the negative impacts like cyberbullying and unrealistic comparisons.

• Varied and Precise Vocabulary: Use a wide range of vocabulary choices to suit your purpose and to influence your audience.

  • Example: Instead of saying "social media is bad," use more precise language like "the pervasive nature of social media platforms can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, particularly amongst young users."

• Structure and Organisation: Guide your audience through a well-managed structure, organising your talk to ensure clarity. Aim for a clear start and end with impact.

  • Example: Structure your speech with a clear introduction outlining your topic and viewpoint, 2-3 main points in the body each supported by evidence and examples, and a strong conclusion that summarizes and leaves a lasting impression.

• Audience Awareness: Be constantly aware of your audience's needs. Consider what will matter to them, what examples will resonate, and how to create impact through your delivery and by building a relationship with them. Pay attention to their reactions and responses.

  • Example: If speaking to younger students about the future of work, you might focus on the skills needed for future jobs and use examples relevant to their interests. If speaking to teachers, you might discuss the educational implications of the changing job market.

Structuring Your Presentation

An effective structure is crucial for a successful presentation. Consider this framework:

• Introduction:

  • Start with a strong opening to capture attention. This could be a:

    • Provocative Question: "What if I told you everything you knew about climate change was wrong?"

    • Personal Story: "Three years ago, standing at the edge of a shrinking glacier changed my perspective forever."

    • Relevant Quote: "As Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.'"

  • Clearly state the purpose and topic of your speech.

  • Address your audience directly and use inclusive pronouns like "you" and "we" to engage them.

• Main Body:

  • Break your speech into clear, logical points (2-3 main points is often effective).

  • Each point should directly support your main argument or purpose.

  • Use evidence to substantiate each point. This could include:

    • Statistics

    • Examples

    • Anecdotes (short personal stories)

    • Quotes from experts or research

  • Organise this section with clear transitions between points to maintain flow and guide your audience.

  • Consider addressing counter-arguments to show you've considered different perspectives and strengthen your own argument.

• Conclusion:

  • Summarise your main points to reinforce your message.

  • Restate the purpose of your speech.

  • End with a strong concluding statement. This could be:

    • Call to Action: "Let's pledge to unplug for an hour each day and reconnect with the world around us."

    • Thought-Provoking Statement: "In a world driven by screens, it's our humanity that keeps us connected."

    • Powerful Quote: "As Albert Einstein once said, 'I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.'"

Delivery Techniques

How you deliver your presentation is as important as what you say. Focus on:

• Tone: Ensure your tone is appropriate and convincing. Adapt it to your topic and audience (e.g., passionate for a persuasive speech, informative for an explanation).

• Register: Use vocabulary and phrasing that is suitably formal for the context. Avoid slang or overly casual language.

• Style: Aim for a dynamic and effective style. Vary your sentence structure and overall structure to keep the audience engaged.

• Persuasive Devices: Use techniques purposefully to enhance your speech:

  • Repetition: Repeat key points to reinforce them. Example: "We must act now. We must act decisively. We must act together."

  • Tripling: List three related points or arguments for emphasis and memorability. Example: "Be prepared, be informed, be involved."

  • Rhetorical Questions: Engage the audience and provoke thought. Example: "Are we really doing enough to protect our planet?"

  • Direct Address and Inclusive Pronouns: Use "you," "we," and "us" to create a connection with your audience.

• Physical Skills:

  • Eye Contact: Maintain eye contact with different members of the audience to build connection.

  • Posture and Movement: Stand confidently, use natural gestures, and move purposefully if appropriate.

  • Voice: Vary your pace, volume, and intonation to emphasize points and maintain interest.

Responding to Questions

After your presentation, you will be asked questions ¹ by your audience. This is an important part of the assessment.  

• Listen Carefully: Pay close attention to each question to ensure you understand it fully.

• Answer Directly: Address the question directly and avoid going off-topic.

• Show Knowledge and Understanding: Your answers should demonstrate a strong grasp of your topic and the issues surrounding it.

• Think Critically: Be prepared to think on your feet and respond thoughtfully to unexpected questions.

• Be Respectful: Even if you disagree with a question or viewpoint, maintain a respectful and polite tone.

Example Topics

Choosing a topic you are genuinely interested in will make the process more engaging. Here are some examples of suitable topics:

• Current Events:

  • The impact of social media on political discourse.

  • Is enough being done to combat climate change?

  • The ethics of artificial intelligence in everyday life.

• Social Issues:

  • The importance of mental health awareness in schools.

  • Should voting be compulsory for young people?

  • The role of social media in shaping body image.

• Personal Interests:

  • The benefits of learning a musical instrument.

  • Why a particular hobby or sport is important to you.

  • The impact of a significant personal experience.

• Ethical Dilemmas:

  • The moral implications of genetic engineering.

  • Is it ever justifiable to break the law for a cause you believe in?

  • The ethics of using animals in scientific research.