Grade 4
Great Falls, Montana
Dear 4th Grader and Families:
This year, you will have the opportunity to write and
present a 3-5 minute expository speech. An
expository speech is given by an expert of a
particular topic to expose his/her audience to some
interesting ideas and facts about the topic. You will
also create at least one visual aid, such as a poster, to
illustrate and support your main ideas during your
speech.
Preparing a speech is fun and easy if you follow the
alligator’s footsteps. In this unit, you will be learning
to write a speech with a snappy beginning, meaty
middle, and powerful ending. You will also be
learning to present your speech in an interesting
way.
This booklet contains assignments that need to be
completed on your time. This booklet also contains
other information about your speech, such as a
rubric (how you speech will be assessed), checklists,
guidelines, timelines, and examples.
You will find that the more work and creativity you
put into your speech, the more you will enjoy
presenting your speech. So give this unit your best
effort, and maybe you will be one of the fourth
graders from your school chosen to present at the All
City Speech Meet.
Thank you for your involvement.
Sincerely,
Jeff Rieger
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Gifted Education Public Speaking Curriculum
Rules
Grade 4: Expository
Purpose: to inform & expose a topic, but do not give an opinion or
take a position
____1. No costumes or implied by clothing (example: shirt with
related logo or topic)
____2. 3-5 minutes in length
____3. notecards may be used (as a reference), but majority should
be memorized
____4. visual aid(s) needed that support speech
____5. quotations must be cited (tell where quote came from)
____6. can paraphrase quotations (put them in own words and
explain
____7. typed copy may be requested
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Table of Contents
Page #
4
5-7
8
9-10
11
12
13
14
15
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Information
Pick a topic
Notecard Organization
Research Outline
Sources/Bibliography information
Snappy Beginning
Powerful Ending
Visual Aid information
Video presentation checklist
Partner checklist
Practice rubrics
Notes
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Definition of an expository speech:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Possible topic examples:
______________________________
_____________________________
______________________________
_____________________________
Possible topics:
______________________________
_____________________________
______________________________
_____________________________
______________________________
_____________________________
______________________________
_____________________________
The topic for my speech is ________________________________ because
_______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
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Topic:
Facts:
Topic:
Facts:
Topic:
Facts:
5
Topic:
Facts:
Topic:
Facts:
Topic:
Facts:
6
Topic:
Facts:
Topic:
Facts:
Topic:
Facts:
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1._____________________________________________
________________________________________________
 Fact: ______________________________________
 Fact: ______________________________________
 Fact:_____________________________________
2._____________________________________________
________________________________________________
 Fact: ______________________________________
 Fact:______________________________________
 Fact: _____________________________________
3._____________________________________________
________________________________________________
 Fact: ______________________________________
 Fact: ______________________________________
 Fact: ______________________________________
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Books I read during
my research
Websites I studied
during my research
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How to Write Your Sources Correctly
The last page of your speech should include your bibliography. Be
sure to examine the punctuation of each carefully!
Book example:
Arnheim, R. (1971). Art and Visual Perception. Berkeley,
CA: University of California Press.
*The author’s last name is listed first.
It is followed by the date of publication,
in parentheses, ended with a period.
Interview example:
March 23, 2004, Interview with Dr. Alec Dogs, doctor of
veterinary medicine.
Magazine example:
Page, E. (1998). The use of the computer in analyzing student
essays. International Review of Education, 14, 253-263.
*The author’s last name is listed first.
It is followed by the date of publication,
in parentheses, ended with a period. The title of the article is not capitalized,
and the title of the magazine is capitalized and in italics, followed by the
volume of the magazine and the page numbers of the article.
Internet example:
Bryant,P. (2002). Biodiversity and Conservation Retrieved October
4, 2004 from darwin.bio.uci.edu/sustain/bio65/Titlpage.htm
*The author’s last name is listed first.
It is followed by the date of publication,
in parentheses, ended with a period. The title of the article is capitalized and in
italics, followed by the date you looked up article and the website.
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An attention-getting snappy beginning could be:
1. a startling fact or statistic
2. story, real or created
3. poem, song, or jingle
Here is an example of a snappy beginning:
1. An attention-getting question or statement:
2. An introduction sentence:
3. Today I will be…
Here is my plan for my snappy beginning:
1. An attention-getting question or statement:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. An introduction sentence (why you chose your topic):
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3. Today I will be…
1. ___________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________
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Three parts of a POWERFUL ENDING:
1. Transition into ending sentence
2. Review main points
3. Memorable conclusion sentence
Example POWERFUL ENDING:
1. Transition into ending sentence:
___________________________________________
____________________________________________
2. Review main points
 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________
 _______________________________________
3. Memorable conclusion sentence that will
leave a big impression on your audience:
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
________________________________________________________
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Your visual aid should include the following criteria:
_____It should have a well-written, dark-colored, clear title that can be read at
least one-half of a classroom away.
____The title should be in block letters that are traced with stencils, printed
from the computer, or punched out will the Ellison machine (the aide’s handydandy letter-puncher)
____It should not be cluttered with too much info (KISS – keep it simple senor or
senorita).
____It should highlight the three main points of your speech.
___It should have a graphic or picture that catches the eye, supports your
topic, and is easy to see from a distance.
TITLE
Main point
1
picture
Main
point 2
Main point
3
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Public Speaking checklist
Score =
/80
CONTENT:
Snappy Beginning _____________________________________________
Does it have pizzazz? Is it creative?
Does it get the audience’s attention?
5 points
Meaty Middle _________________________________________________
Paragraph 1: Does it have a main idea?
Is it well organized? Does it contain facts?
5 points
Meaty Middle _________________________________________________
Paragraph 2: Does it have a main idea?
Is it well organized? Does it contain facts?
5 points
Meaty Middle _________________________________________________
Paragraph 3: Does it have a main idea?
Is it well organized? Does it contain facts?
5 points
Powerful Ending ______________________________________________
Does it summarize the three main points?
Does it end with a memorable quote or a bang?
5 points
Length of Speech _____________________________________________
Did it last 3-5 minutes (expository)?
5 points
Did it last 4-6 minutes (oratory)?
5 points
PRESENTATION: _____________________________________________
Eye Contact
5 points
Volume
5 points
Expression
5 points
Enunciation
5 points
Memorization
5 points
Gestures
5 points
Speed
5 points
Style
5 points
Use of visual aids (expository)
5 points
OR the triangle movement (oratory)
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CHECKLIST
My name:
My topic:
CHECKLIST
Partner’s name:
Topic of speaker:
Ideas/Content
Ideas/Content

_____good topic: easy to
know what it is
_____interesting stuff: info.
is fun to read

Organization


_____topic sentence
gets reader’s
attention
_____details support
topic sentence
Voice
 _____obviously written
by a student & not
copied

_____good topic: easy to
know what it is
_____interesting stuff: info.
is fun to read

Organization


_____topic sentence
gets reader’s
attention
_____details support
topic sentence
Voice
 _____obviously written
by a student & not
copied
Word Choice
Word Choice
 _____words
 _____words
seem as if
written by excellent
4th grade writer
Fluency
 _____flows
well with
transition words
 _____easy to read aloud
Conventions
 _____spelling
 _____punctuation
seem as if
written by excellent
4th grade writer
Fluency
 _____flows
well with
transition words
 _____easy to read aloud
Conventions
 _____spelling
 _____punctuation
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Fourth Grade Expository Speech Rubric
Name: _________________
Topic: _________________
1. Snappy Beginning
- Attention Getter (5)
-State topic and purpose (5)
2. Meaty Middle
- 3 facts with details stated (15)
-Visual Aid supports/reinforces (15)
3. Powerful Ending
(10 pts) ______
(30 pts) ______
(10 pts) ______
-Restate the topic and its importance to audience (5)
-Provide a personal opinion (5)
4. Eye contact
5. Vocal expression
6. Time (3-5 min.)
_________
Total Points:
(10 pts) ______
(10 pts) ______
(10 pts) ______
______
_________________________________________________
Fourth Grade Expository Speech Rubric
Name: _________________
Topic: _________________
1. Snappy Beginning
- Attention Getter (5)
-State topic and purpose (5)
2. Meaty Middle
- 3 facts with details stated (15)
-Visual Aid supports/reinforces (15)
3. Powerful Ending
(10 pts) ______
(30 pts) ______
(10 pts) ______
-Restate the topic and its importance to audience (5)
-Provide a personal opinion (5)
4. Eye contact
5. Vocal expression
6. Time (3-5 min.)
_________
Total Points:
(10 pts) ______
(10 pts) ______
(10 pts) ______
______
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