Touchstone 2: Deliver an Informative Speech
SCENARIO: You are a manager at Squidwork, Inc., which is a lucrative online boutique (e-commerce company) that has gone through massive growth in a short amount of time. Over the past two years, there has been an increase in revenue, the team has expanded significantly, and additional leadership has been added to each department. It is the hope of the company to go into the new fiscal year more efficient, structured, and equipped to continuously meet the demands of the modern-day consumer.
A mass communication with more details will be shared across the company.
ASSIGNMENT: In this assignment, as the manager, you will give a 3-5 minute informative speech to your team on the overall status of the company going into the new year. An informative speech is intended to deliver information. No call to action is required for this type of speech.
You will emphasize how the company is doing financially (growth and revenue), how the company has expanded, and address any areas of focus in the upcoming year. In your speech, you must emphasize the following key notes:
Financial status: Emphasize how the company is doing financially (growth and revenue)
Significant increase in orders
Two-year revenue climb
Consistent improvement in orders and revenues in the past four quarters
Expansion: Mention the number of team members associated with the company and how the company has expanded
Hired 115 new employees over several departments
Total of 265 full-time employees
Hired new COO
New supervisory and managerial leadership in the following departments: Purchasing, Receiving, Merchandising/Channel Management, Listing, Customer Service, Picking, Packing/Shipping/Quality Control.
Areas of focus: Address the company goal to “become more efficient, structured, and equipped as a team to continue to meet the demands of the consumer.”
Focus on collaboration across departments
Invest in updated technology
Monitor performance and adjust strategies as needed
A. Directions
Step 1. Create a Speech Based on the Scenario Provided
Consider the audience and purpose and create your speech utilizing the five main parts of any speech:
Main Parts of a Speech Description
1. Attention statement Greet and address your audience with an attention statement that draws their focus to you and your speech.
2. Introduction Clearly state the purpose of your speech, while engaging the audience and establishing credibility.
3. Body Identify key areas that need to be addressed in your speech:
Financial status: Emphasize how the company is doing financially (growth and revenue)
Significant increase in orders
Two-year revenue climb
Consistent improvement in orders and revenues in the past four quarters
Expansion: Mention the number of team members associated with the company and how the company has expanded
Hired 115 new employees over several departments
Total of 265 full-time employees
Hired new COO
New supervisory and managerial leadership in the following departments: Purchasing, Receiving, Merchandising/Channel Management, Listing, Customer Service, Picking, Packing/Shipping/Quality Control.
Areas of focus: Address the company goal to “become more efficient, structured, and equipped as a team to continue to meet the demands of the consumer.”
Focus on collaboration across departments
Invest in updated technology
Monitor performance and adjust strategies as needed
4: Conclusion Summarize your speech by relating the key notes in the body to the overall topic.
5: Residual message
Step 2: Create Notes
Create notes or bullet points that you can refer to while presenting your speech.
Step 3: Use Clear Language
Language is consistently clear and appropriate to the audience, helping the audience connect with the speaker and the topic. Where necessary, technical jargon is explained.
Step 4: Practice Speech
Practice presenting your speech. Deliver a speech that is 3 to 5 minutes in length.
Step 5: Review Rubric
Before filming, review the rubric to ensure that you understand how you will be evaluated.
Step 6: Film Speech
Film yourself presenting the speech. Be sure that you can be easily seen and heard, and direct your speech to the camera.
Step 7: Review Video
Review your video to ensure that you can be seen and heard. Refilm as needed.
Step 8: Review Checklist and Requirements
Review the checklist and requirements to ensure that your Touchstone is complete.
Step 9: Submit
Upload your video using the blue button at the top of this page.
Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.
❒ The purpose of this speech is to be informative.
❒ My speech has an introduction, body, and conclusion.
❒ The introduction includes my key message (thesis).
❒ The body includes my main points and support.
❒ I have used language that is appropriate to my audience.
❒ The conclusion summarizes my main points.
❒ I have filmed a video of myself presenting my speech.
❒ The video of my speech is 3 to 5 minutes in length.
❒ I have reviewed the video and I can be easily heard and seen.
❒ I have adhered to all of the requirements.
❒ I have read through the rubric and I understand how my Touchstone will be evaluated
C. Requirements
The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:
Video should be 3 to 5 minutes in length.
All video content must be original for this assignment and appropriate for an academic context.
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
Video submission should include your name and the date.
Any video file format is acceptable.
Leave a lasting impression on your audience by closing the speech in a memorable manner.
