One way for developing writers to learn how to create "quality work", is to look carefully at what compelling communicators do, and try to identify "what works" in their writing.
Take a look/listen to the following "compelling communicators". Write a 1-2 paragraph overview of each speech that identifies what makes it powerful.
Example 1: Kyle's Last Lecture
Example 2: "I Have a Dream" Speech by Martin Luther King Jr.
“Certainly”, Kyle is a character of much artistic skill. He manages to display some of the finest use of the English language I have ever seen in a high school student. Kyle uses many tools to his advantage to construct a powerful message. I noticed that he demonstrates his capabilities with the use of rhymes, alliteration, and adjectives quite flawlessly; these all combined to create an effective message that relates to his audience. Another factor in this writing to take note of is his use of personification; he addresses “education” as if it were another human being. Overall, a very well thought-out piece of writing with many tactics to “grip” the audience.
ReplyDeleteMartin Luther, an American icon, didn’t become famous for throwing in his two cents, but for speaking the speech that revolutionized the world for good. Speeches of such caliber need to have genuine passion and amazing fluency with our language; clearly evident in this man. Multiple strategies were used throughout the duration of this speech but the most prominent one, in my opinion, was clearly his directness. What needed to be done was clear as daylight, and acknowledging to whom he is addressing was easy to come by. Also, on the subject of directness, Luther states multiple times that “Now” is the time for change. Other additions to his speech consisted of Luther’s use of pauses and volume to perfect and maximize effectiveness and build up the crowd and keep them focused.
Taking the geographical factors into consideration, Luther’s choice to address the American Dream was a very powerful tool as well. Americans, even today, still value the dream of achieving greatness, and Luther makes it very clear that greatness is accomplished through a communal approach. Dreams can be powerful things as well, after all, it was a dream that inspired Luther to gather the courage to take up the poppet in front of such an immense audience and say the words that changed man-kind.