· Web viewA word outline is only key words. A sentence outline displays entire citations and complete sentences). Basically, a sentence outline is a fully written research paper

Speech 205Mr. Sanders

The Informative Speech

For this assignment, you will prepare a 5-7 minute speech with the specific purpose of helping your audience understand a topic.

Purpose:

For this speech, you will research a topic of your choice. This is basically like a research paper, except you are presenting the information orally instead of in written form. You will still have to research the topic and gather sources and data. You will also have to create a bibliography of the sources you will use.

Your speech should meet the following criteria:

1. Use a minimum of 3 legitimate, reputable sources (for example: no Wikipedia - the one exception to this is if you scroll to the bottom of a Wikipedia page and click on one of the external links under “references”. This will take you to a certified reputable source). In your past speeches, you probably relied solely on personal knowledge and experience. This method alone will no longer be acceptable. You MUST have at least 3 sources in your bibliography, and you may only cite the sources you will mention in your speech. This means if you started with 6 sources, but only refer to 3 in your speech, you will only put 3 in your bibliography.

2. You will mention your sources in your speech- this is called an “oral citation.” For example, According to Bob Smith in The State Journal Register on October 25th, 2013, “Students are becoming smarter at an earlier age due to technology.” However, he goes on to state, “that this may cause increased laziness”. Ultimately, what we can learn from this is…

3. Have a visual aid for your presentation- this could include a power point, keynote, or poster. If you have any other ideas, please check with me first.

4. Conform to the time limit; 3 points will be deducted every 15 seconds under or over the time limit. The best way to avoid this is to practice at home and time your speech. Aim for 6 minutes.

5. Turn in your topic approval and typed rough draft outline on the due dates listed.6. Speak extemporaneously using notes on note cards. Do not read directly from note cards or visual aids. 7. PowerPoint slides must have a maximum of 20 words per slide.

Acceptable Sources include: Books (nonfiction) Periodicals (nonfiction magazines and scholarly journals) that can be found in print or online Newspapers found in print or online. Google News is extremely helpful! Online articles from reputable sites- please show them to me to gain approval Brochures and pamphlets Newsletters Reference books (dictionaries, almanacs, encyclopedia, etc.) Fiction books

1 of 27

Timeline/Due Dates:Days to work in class on a computer and with my help: _________Peer and self evaluate outlines day: ______5 topic ideas: ______Final Informative Topic Approved due: _______Rough Draft Word Outline due: ________Typed Rough Draft sentence outline + bibliography + 3 sources due: ________Typed Final Sentence Outline & Bibliography due: _________Informative speaking beings: _________

Bibliography Format

You will use MLA format to create your bibliography. Please refer to the MLA handout (it is posted on my

website) before you start your bibliography.

2 of 27

Stu DentInformative Speech

November 1st, 20133rd Hour

Eating Healthy with a Busy Lifestyle (WORD OUTLINE)

General Purpose: To informSpecific Purpose: To inform the audience about eating healthy while on the runThesis statement: A healthy lifestyle is still doable if you make wise choices because you’ll live longer.

I. IntroductionA. Attention getter: pictures of healthy foodB. Thesis: Therefore, it is imperative that we learn about… because…C. Preview: So today I will first talk about… 2nd… Before finally….

II. BodyA. Pack your lunch *mention Mayer

1. Healthier2. Less expensive3. Many options

a. pre-cooked, pre-cutb. fruit cupsc. veggies

4. Prepare in advance5. Quick meals

a. Lean Cuisineb. Healthy Choice

B. Eating in Restaurants1. Healthier choices available

a. Saladsb. Baked or grilled entresc. Low-carb options

2. Healthier restaurants available *mention Browna. Subwayb. Sweet Tomatoes

C. Keep healthy snacks accessible *mention Carter1. Fruit2. Yogurt smoothies3. Water

III. ConclusionA. In conclusion, there are many options available. Today we talked about 1st… 2nd… and finally…B. So remember, making the choice doesn’t have to be hard. Eat healthy, eat smart, eat well.

Bibliography

Brown, Alexandra. "The Rise of the New Restaurant." Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature 12.6 (2009): 48-62. Print.

Carter, L., and Margaret Shaffer. “A Quick Fix.” Good Housekeeping Mar. 2006: 143-48. Print.

Mayer, Sarah. Creating a Healthy Lifestyle. New York: Harper, 2008.

3 of 27

Name _________________________________________________________________________________________ Date _________________________ Informative SpeechTitle of Speech: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Category Grading Criteria (rated 1-10 per category)E- excellent (no flaws at all)M- meets criteriaB- below expectations0- not present

Score

Introduction E M B 0 Attention Getting Device (AGD)E M B 0 Thesis Statement (Claim + Reason)E M B 0 Preview/Summary

Body Structure E M B 0 appropriate organizational patternE M B 0 clear and logicalE M B 0 followed outline E M B 0 transitions between topics

Content E M B 0 main points clearly statedE M B 0 main points clearly explainedE M B 0 main points supported by accurate researchE M B 0 oral citations met (at least 3)

Visual Aid E M B 0 necessary and appropriateE M B 0 presented skillfullyE M B 0 well designed (color, size, etc.)E M B 0 professional (neatness, spelling, etc.)E M B 0 audience can see (view not blocked)

Speaker credibility E M B 0 knowledgeableE M B 0 dressed appropriatelyE M B 0 enthusiasm for the topicE M B 0 confidentE M B 0 honest/ethical

Nonverbal physical delivery E M B 0 eye contactE M B 0 postureE M B 0 avoided distracting mannerisms E M B 0 facial expressionsE M B 0 gestures

Verbal/vocal delivery E M B 0 vocal enthusiasmE M B 0 rate/fluency (avoided dead air)E M B 0 volumeE M B 0 avoided offensive language E M B 0 avoided fillers (um, uh, like, yeah, etc. )E M B 0 clarityE M B 0 correct grammar and word usage

Conclusion E M B 0 Review StatementE M B 0 Clincher statementE M B 0 ending and departure (avoid “that’s it,” etc.)E M B 0 appropriate length

Outline E M B 0 outline complete with all parts presentE M B 0 format correctE M B 0 bibliography requirements met (at least 3)

Conformity to assignment E M B 0 time limit met (5-7 minutes)E M B 0 topic approvedE M B 0 spoke extemporaneouslyE M B 0 source requirements met (at least 3)

Score (out of 100 points possible)

Penalties Late? Gum? Speaking or being distracting during other speeches?

Total 90-100 A80-89 B70-79 C60-69 D

4 of 27

0-59 FGetting Started: How do I think of a speech topic?

Write down and brainstorm ideas below:

What makes me feel:

Happy?

Sad?

Angry?

Excited?

What do I know a lot about?

What do I know little about, but I am eager to learn?

What strong moral values do I hold?

What topics do cool and exciting things today?

What things happening right now will have a profound impact on the future?

====

What type of outline will you use for this speech?

Chronological?

Past-Present-Future?

What it is-Applications-Implications?

5 of 27

What will be your main points and sub points? Write down some ideas below.

1. MAIN POINT

a. SUB POINT

i. Sources, Facts, Statistics, Data, Examples

ii. Sources, Facts, Statistics, Data, Examples

2. MAIN POINT

a. SUB POINT

i. Sources, Facts, Statistics, Data, Examples

ii. Sources, Facts, Statistics, Data, Examples

===============================================================

1.

A.

B.

2.

A.

B.

3.

A.

B.

6 of 27

Steps to accomplishing your informative successfully:

1. Brainstorm 5 topics

2. Pick your favorite

3. Have Mr. Sanders approval (No repeat topics - first come first serve)

4. Write your topic on the speaking date sheet on the board

5. Decide what type of main point outline structure fits your speech best

6. Create a word outline for your 3 main points (Be creative! There is rarely a wrong answer here.)

7. Create a word outline with your sub points (Be creative! There is rarely a wrong answer here.)

8. Select a computer and write your name and computer number down.

9. Go to my teacher website. Download the "Informative Template" and copy/paste that file into a Google Document

10. Share your outline with Mr. Sanders via Google Documents at [email protected] (your log-in [email protected]) 

11. Edit the Google document however best fits your needs. You do not need to use all my pre-set up A,B,C, and 1,2,3’s

12. Type your word outline into the google document

13. Write your speech! (Use the files on my website to help you)

14. Use “Google News” and other credible sources to back up enhance your speeches credibility!

15. If you picked a topic you are genuinely interested in, this will be more fun for you.

16. Ask questions!

Notes:

-Remember please visit the resources I have posted on my website. I promise it will help.

-I also have student successful student outlines to look at from previous years. Those will help, too.

-You only need 3 oral citations. I recommend using 1 per body paragraph although more is fine.

7 of 27

How to write an awesome Informative!!

Topic selection A super interesting topic makes your informative wonderful. Try and pick a topic that you think will really interest your audience and show them that

it is pretty much the greatest thing they will ever hear about. Pick something that you are really interested and excited about as well-if you connect

with your speech, your audience will too! Topic ideas: Any type of new development/idea/theory-medical, scientific, technology,

automobile, political, etc. Basically, something new and innovative. Where do you find great topics??

-There are several websites you can research that have great topics you can pick from.-Try these:1. www.popularscience.com2. www.popularmechanics.com3. www.newscientist.com4. www.wired.com5. www.technologyreview.com

So you’ve found your topic-what next? The best thing to do once you have your awesome topic is to research it and find

as much information about it as you can. During your research, be sure and find credible and up-to-date sources that you

can cite in your speech. Once you feel comfortable that you have the research you need, you can construct

a basic outline of your speech that will guide you during the drafting process. For your outline, you need to follow some sort of structure that you will use throughout the entire writing process (see below).

Structuring your Informative The basic structure for informative is generally as follows:

8 of 27

1. Introduction: This is where you want to grab your audience’s attention and really get them hooked on this speech. A great way to do this is to have an attention getting device-basically, a really cool lead into your speech that will grab their attention right away! Introduce your topic! Tell the audience what it is that you are going to

talk to them about and why it will “change the world!” Essentially, give them a significance statement that will make them think “Oh my goodness, how did we ever go without having or knowing this before??!”

You need a preview statement that will let them know where you are going with the speech. Example: So today we will first talk about this, second this, and finally this.

2. History/What is it/How does it work: This where you talk about how your topic came to be and just exactly what it is.

What significant events led up to its establishment? Next, give some detail about what exactly your topic is-anything

super interesting or unique that really makes it stand out would work well.

Talk about how it works! What happens to make it do what it does??

Remember: This part of your speech can become really confusing so be sure and explain it in a way that is easy to understand, but still sounds well put together.

3. Applications: In what ways can your topic be put to use in our world? How will this help us?

Example: Maybe you are talking about a new plastic that an animal can make from secretions in its body. You could say that the plastic can be used to improve surgical casts, strengthen bullet proof vests for police officers, and even be used as a knee replacement in humans.

Talk briefly about how all of the applications listed above are better than what we have now because of your topic.

Basically, just tell us about different ways that it can be applied/used and why these ways are so beneficial.

4. Implications: This is where you talk about what your topic will mean for us now and in the future.

Present both good and bad aspects of your topic.o Good: Will it open up the door for new research? Will it

allow fields of science to come together that never have before? Etc.

9 of 27

o Bad: Is it too expensive to make? Will it hurt the environment? Etc.

Any ideas you have about what this will mean for humanity should go here.

5. Conclusion: Sum it up! Give a review statement about what we talked about. A great summary statement about your amazing topic is always nice! Try and leave the audience with a clever or impactful statement that

will make them remember your speech!

Overall Be enthusiastic about your topic-show your audience that you love what you are talking

about and why they should too. Don’t be afraid to add some cheesy, pun jokes to liven up your speech. Have fun! Informative is bubbly and happy, so be that way!

Remember: You are NOT allowed to choose a topic that is a Demonstration topic. You are purely informing us of a topic you find interesting not demonstrating. Avoid “HOW TO topics”

1. How nuclear power works2. The biography of your favorite actor3. How to make pizza4. The history of comic books5. How to change your car’s oil6. The story of how your school was founded7. The story of your favorite president8. The history of your hometown9. How to swing a golfclub10. Trends in the stock market11. How to drive a stick-shift12. History of a favorite product brand13. How to shoot a basketball14. Description of life in another country15. How to weave a basket16. The three branches of U.S. government17. How to read a map18. How roads are built19. The Seven Wonders of the World20. Disneyland21. How to knit a scarf22. Professional baseball stadiums23. Local folklore24. Roadside attractions

10 of 27

25. Chinese food26. UFO’s27. Real life vampires28. Types of cheese29. How to play chess30. Key phrases in a foreign language31. Types of poetry32. Evolution of video games33. Raising pet snakes34. Serial killers35. Foriegn TV shows36. How to make a website37. Civil War generals38. Historical events that occurred on your speech day39. Famous diplomats40. All about your favorite vacation spot41. Famous speeches42. How to get good grades43. How to write a resume44. How to survive a job interview45. Types of tropical fish46. Dog shows47. The newspaper business48. All about a favorite radio show49. How a computer works50. How to organize a closet51. U.S. territories52. Voodoo53. Comparison of different religions54. Schools of painting55. The latest discoveries in astronomy56. Fringe known political parties57. How to find cheap airline tickets58. Competitive horseback riding59. How to make fishing lures60. Labor Unions61. How to plan a wedding62. How to tie various knots63. Cruise vacations64. Crazy laws65. How to improve your health66. Electric cars67. Life in the future68. How to throw a good party69. Working in the fast food industry70. How to play the kazoo71. Origins of superstitions72. Lesser known Presidents73. Computer viruses74. High school dating on a budget

11 of 27

75. Cults76. Dyslexia77. Impact of media on society78. Branches of the military79. Famous advertising campaigns80. Nursing homes81. How to write a will82. The United Nations83. How to find your ancestors84. Deep sea fish85. A particular period of architecture86. How to construct an argument87. Saving money on your income taxes88. Sports card collecting89. The history of the Bible90. Book reviews for a particular author91. How to avoid boredom92. Sales tactics93. Comparison of economic systems94. Censorship in history95. Psychological profiling96. Picking a name for your children97. America’s fastest growing cities98. How to improve your manners99. How to improve your conversation skills100. World War II heroes101. The Miss America Pageant102. Interesting cultures103. How to raise rabbits104. Exotic pets105. Ballroom dancing106. Near death experiences107. ID theft108. Evolution of voting laws109. Natural disasters110. Breeds of dogs111. Dream interpretation112. Teenage problems113. Childhood problems114. The FBI115. Basic economic principles116. Advances in education117. Spies118. Evolution of the English language119. National Parks120. Young billionaires121. Former child stars122. Obesity epidemic123. How to be more romantic

12 of 27

124. Types of common plants125. How to cook vegetarian

126. Funny inventions127. Stupid criminals128. Code breaking129. How to play Poker130. Child geniuses131. Spoon collecting132. Charitable organizations133. Reincarnation134. How to break bad habits135. Weight lifting136. How the circulatory system works137. Origin of holidays138. Interior decorating139. Lie detecting140. The Supreme Court141. Learning styles142. Life in jail143. Your teeth144. How to set up an aquarium145. Organized crime146. Street gangs147. How to make soup148. The losingest professional sports teams149. How the telephone works150. The U.S. Postal Service151. How to apply make-up152. Investment strategies153. The Lottery154. The Industrial Revolution155. Medicines from nature156. Memory loss157. Differences in male and female communication158. Mental illnesses159. The Middle Ages160. How the brain works161. Prohibition162. Drug laws163. Airplane stunts164. The history of your favorite musical group165. Useful websites166. The Great Depression167. Famous riots168. Muscle cars169. Antique collecting170. Dog training171. Model railroading172. How to perform a magic trick

13 of 27

173. The intelligence of dolphins174. Multi-Level marketing175. Interesting world records176. Different philosophical perspective177. The Welfare system178. Choosing a digital camera179. City planning180. Reality TV shows181. Types of cars182. Choosing the right tires for your car183. Diploma mills184. The most dangerous jobs185. The trucking industry186. Basic first aid187. Coin collecting188. The British Royal Family189. Ice cream making190. How search engines work191. Banned books192. The worst trades in sports history193. How galaxies are formed194. Native American tribes from your area195. Exotic breeds of cats196. Unitary Executive Theory197. How to turkey-call198. How bottled water is purified199. Sports card collecting200. The U.S. Post Office201. How cellular phones work202. Computers through the decades203. Spring Break destinations204. The rising cost of education205. Early 20th century filmmaking206. Unique websites207. How to backup your DVDs208. How to make candles209. Hand-held PDA’s210. Famous robberies211. Wedding traditions of other cultures212. Robots now and in the future213. Rock collecting214. The career of a favorite musician

215. The history of ___________ 216. Women in politics217. The Great Lakes218. Conspiracy theories219. Global warming220. Strategies for healthy eating221. E.S.P.

14 of 27

222. Famous golf courses223. Goldrushes outside of California224. U.S. immigration patterns through the years225. Code breaking226. Submarines227. TV sitcoms228. Landsfills229. Beekeeping230. All-terrain vehicles231. Satellite radio232. Exotic fruits233. What to look for in a new car234. Firefighting235. Canadian football236. The sport of “curling”237. The insurance industry238. Famous comedy duos239. Word origins240. How chocolate is made241. Bio-diesel242. New technologies243. Ghosts244. How the Earth was formed245. Overcoming conflict246. The longest books ever written247. How to ski248. How to make soda249. Fastest growing careers250. Origins of clichés

MORE INFORMATIVE IDEAS 

1.      Aeronautics

2.      Panic Attacks

3.      Football

4.      Anorexia

5.      Franklin D. Roosevelt

6.      Handicapped Playgrounds

7.      Apple Cider

8.      Eleanor Roosevelt

9.      Richard Nixon

15 of 27

10.    Anthrax

11.    Astronauts   

12.    Soccer

13.    Roller coasters

14.    Disneyland

15.    M & M's

16.    Vietnam

17.    Go Carts

18.    Premature Babies

19.    Valley Children's Hospital

20.    Aztecs   

21.    The Vatican

22.    The London Bridge

23.    Azores Islands

24.    Golf Tournaments

25.    Dreams

26.    The Papacy

27.    Baseball   

28.    Schizophrenia

29.    Elvis

30.    Bill Clinton

31.    James Dean

32.    Spiders

33.    Enders Game (or other sci fi book series)

34.    The Giant Forest

16 of 27

35.    Bees

36.    Blood Donation

37.    Water

38.    Hummingbirds

39.    Spinal Bifida

40.    Incubus

41.    Breast Cancer

42.    Stress

43.    Tattoos

44.    California

45.    Teenage Violence

46.    Mattresses

47.    Tennis

48.    Cinco de Mayo

49.    Water Polo

50.    The Electoral College

51.    Jackie Robinson

52.    Indian Weddings

53.    Hmong New Year

54.    Cystic Fibrosis

55.    The Rock

56.    Depression

57.    Thomas Kincaide

58.    San Francisco

59.    Monterey Bay Aquarium

17 of 27

60.    Diabetes

61.    Marilyn Monroe

62.    Metallica

63.    Missions in California

64.    Trucks

65.    Gallup Polls

66.    Drag Racing

67.    Babe Ruth

68.    TiVo

69.    Epilepsy

70.    Musical Instruments

71.    Epilepsy

72.    Twins

73.    Night Terrors

74.    Workman's Compensation

75.    Santa Cruz Boardwalk

76.    Madonna

77.    Cancer

78.    Firefighting

79.    Mother Teresa

80.    Valentine's Day

81.    Ovarian Cysts

82.    Mac vs PC's

83.    Hemp

84.    The Statue of Liberty

18 of 27

85.    Artificial Turf vs Grass

86.    Leaning Tower of Pisa

87.    Niagara Falls

88.    Charlie Parker

89.    Dog Breeds

90.    Disney World/Epcot Center

91.    The Olympics

92.    The White House

93.    The Simpsons

94.    The Beatles

95.    Sharks

96.    Cirque de Solei

97.    Harry Potter Book vs Movie

98.    The Empire State Building

99.    Pearl Harbor

100.  Volcanoes

101.  Hitler

102.  The many uses of Yeast

103.  Picasso

104.  K-9's

105.  Coca Cola Company

106.  The Stock Market

107.  Hiroshima

108.  The Challenger

109.  The Bee Gees

19 of 27

110.  Diet Fads

111.  Clothing Styles

112.  Hawaii

113.  Hearst Castle

114.  Panama Canal

115.  Global Warming

116.  Toy Story

117.  Cuba

118.  Humphrey Bogart

119.  Hanukkah

120.  Auschwitz

121.  Yosemite

122.  Robert Frost

123.  Bugs Bunny

124.  Figi

125.  Aircraft Carriers

126.  Hawaii

127.  The Golden Gate Bridge

128.  Reality TV

129.  Capitan Planet

130.  Mt. St. Helens

131.  Billy Graham

132.  Mount Rushmore

133.  Quintin Tarantino

134.  Michael Moore

20 of 27

135.  St. Francis of Assisi

136.  Crystal Cave

137.  Dr. Pepper

138.  Betty Crocker

139.  Pentagon

140.  Ghandi

141.  Cesar Chavez

142.  Yves St. Laurent

143.  Coco Chanel

144.  Mayan Culture

145.  Guatemala

146.  El Salvador

147.  The New York Yankees

148.  Oakland Raiders

149.  Seattle Space Needle

150.  American Flag

151.  Batik

152.  Dolphins

153.  The history of bubble gum

154.  Camaro

155.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer

156.  Barack Obama

157.  Audrey Hepburn

158.  Dr. Suess

Clayton T. Sanders – “Unitary Executive Theory: Are our presidents behaving like Kings?”

21 of 27

Illinois State University – Informative Speaking National Finalist – April 2010

Prior to the year 1215, King John of England was an unsuccessful leader in battle. Therefore, he had to

raise taxes on his people expanding the limits of his official power. His barons critical of the job he was doing,

forced him to sign the Magna Carta, placing checks on the king’s executive power. Our framers inspired by the

Magna Carta actively sought to limit the executive branch when drafting the constitution. However, within the

last 30 years our commanders-in-chief have finally begun moving away from the tradition of the limited

executive in the Magna Carta, through their application of the Unitary Executive Theory – or U.E.T. The 2007

Columbia Law Review, explains Unitary Executive Theory, is a theory of American constitutional law holding

that the president controls the entire executive branch, limiting the authority of Congress, the Supreme Court, or

anything that interferes with the performance of Presidential duties. Regardless of your stance on political

parties or past presidential actions, we need to acknowledge that this theory has become a dominant part of how

our executive branch is run. While both parties have been critical of their opposition’s use of UET, Foreign

Policy in Focus of November 18, 2009 explains that presidents from both parties have embraced this

expansion of executive power, which allows them to create laws, while sidestepping congress. With a current

president who has both, opposed and implemented facets of Unitary Executive Theory, it is vital that we gain a

better grasp on just how this theory will impact democracies around the world. By first, examining exactly what

Unitary Executive Theory is, second, explore how recent presidents have applied this theory and finally, take a

look at some critical implications as to what the October, 11th 2008 Los Angeles Times calls “The Hidden

Power.”

Prior to the Magna Carta, the king was governed by a document called ‘The Charter of Liberties’, which

stated the king was subject to the law. However, he could also modify that law as he saw fit. Just as the barons

thought the process for making laws was out of touch with the times, so did the founders of UET. To fully

understand what Unitary Executive Theory is, we must first look at where it came from and second examine the

specifics of UET.

22 of 27

The roots of Unitary Executive Theory stretch as far back as 1787 to the Federalist papers, despite it

being new to the public’s attention. John Mackenzie, author of Absolute Power, states, “This theory is

historically baseless and relies on a misreading of the Constitution and The Federalist Papers .” The modern

form of the theory, according to Christopher S. Kelly, professor of political science at Miami University,

“came about when leaders in Washington saw what they thought was congressional medaling in Watergate and

Vietnam because of executive weakness.” Beginning in the 1970’s our presidents, fearful of their own

presidential limitations, started bringing their own interpretation of law into play. Meanwhile, placing UET

under the label of assuring crucial actions are taken when our countries best interest is on the line. Thus,

establishing president as king mentality.

Next, let’s take a look at what this theory argues. UET relies on the Vesting Clause of Article II of the

constitution, which states, “The executive power shall be vested in the President of the United States of

America.” Stephen Calabresi, a founding member of the federalist society, argues that because this clause is

vague, whereas congressional and judicial mandates are specific, the president has more input over what laws

are implemented. UET is applied through declarations, memoranda, signing statements, and national security

commands, to edit or ignore new and existing legislation. This argues that our country has long misdefined the

nature of checks and balances. Thus, over limiting the executive’s power.

While the Magna Carta was a reaction to the specific incompitancies of King John, its full impact wasn’t

apparent until it led to the dethroning of James the second. Similarly, we need to not just look to UET’s roots in

the Nixon administration but also the two presidents who have used it most, specifically George W. Bush and

Barrack Obama.

Initially, the July 2008 edition of Presidential Studies Quarterly, states “The George W. Bush

administration aggressively advanced claims of presidential supremacy in American government.” One major

area where Bush clearly applied UET was via signing statements. Signing statements are where the president

signs a bill into law, but only after editing out provisions that they do not like as ‘unconstitutional.’

Christopher S. Kelly further notes, “75 signing statements were applied over 164 years of presidents.

23 of 27

However, in Bush’s first term, he did this 435 times.” Additionally, President Bush moved beyond simple

signing statements when, according to the Washington Post as of March 14th, 2008, “he overruled the EPA in

a dispute over air pollution rules.” Conversely, Bush interpreting laws, as he desires, wasn’t all negative.

According to the Chicago Tribune as of May 12th, 2008, “President Bush used UET, after 9/11, to more

quickly round up suspected terrorists to ensure national security.”

Second, while Bush is an extreme case, liberals have been guilty too. President Obama seems to be

following the same path. Kevin Bankston, a lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation states, "The

Obama administration has essentially adopted the position of the Bush administration on UET, even though

candidate Obama was incredibly critical of such authority.” According to the New York Times as of August

8th, 2009, “There are laws Mr. Obama has said he need not obey. These include format requirements for budget

requests, and limits on who he may appoint to a commission.” Interestingly, he’s also found a PR application.

According to the Houston Chronicle as of August 16th, 2009, “Obama has used signing statements to ensure

that World Bank funding was not dependent on political ideology.” In this case UET improved the U.S.’s

international image.

Over time the Magna Carta has been used to back up a broad range of arguments about the powers of

parliament, the monarchy, and people's rights. Britain’s status as one of the major powers in the world meant

that this influenced the content of numerous constitutions, including our own. Consequently, we as many

governments now look to the US as a source of inspiration we must look to the implications of UET.

Initially, this new ‘President as King’ mentality of UET suggests that, modern Americans may prefer

authoritarianism to the founder’s vision of democracy. The Atlantic of August 26th, 2009 points out that

democracy has long held to be one of the core values of the United States, justifying controversial policies at

home and abroad. However, UET allows the executive branch to seize power allocated to congress and the

judiciary on a case-by-case basis, a move that has been criticized but remains largely unchallenged by the

American public. The continued acceptance of UET suggests that we are willing to move away from our

democratic traditions in the name of efficiency, security, and ideological consistency. We have rationalized this

24 of 27

move though our faith in impeachment and the electoral process. However, if elections become the only check

on the executive, what is left to stop them from abolishing or ignoring this final vestige of democracy?

Second, Unitary Executive Theory calls into question the modern importance of the constitution. The

2009 Boston University Law Review explains, traditionally liberals have sought to interpret the spirit of the

constitution, where as conservatives have looked to framers intent and literal readings of the constitution.

However, according to an August 3rd, 2009 article by Emily Shaffer, a political scientist at Harvard

University, “UET was propagated primarily by conservatives in all three branches of government.” The UET,

which relies on a liberal reading of the Constitution conflicts with framers intentions for the executive branch

and with conservative political philosophy. Thus, we have to question those who once argued for a strict

reading of the constitution and examine their motives for embracing UET. Moreover, we have to consider if our

Constitution has become a tool of contemporary politics rather than a document of long-standing ideals.

Today, we examined exactly what the Unitary Executive Theory is, how it has been applied by Bush and

Obama, and finally how our new style of government could impact not only our country, but every country that

looks to the US as a source of inspiration. Unitary Executive Theory’s new wave of use in the last 30 years has

radically changed how the United States is governed with our commanders-in-chief. Only time will tell the

further impacts this theory will have on our nation and, perhaps we can begin to shed a little more light on “The

Hidden Power.”

STUDENTS: PLEASE NOTE, THE SPEECH I WROTE ABOVE WAS 10 MINUTES LONG.

YOURS ONLY HAS TO BE 5-7 MINUTES.

USE THIS TEMPLATE TO FIRST WRITE YOUR WORD OUTLINE. (Remember: A “word” outline is just key words or key points for each main and sub-point).

25 of 27

THEN, USE THIS SAME TEMPLATE TO WRITE YOUR FULL SPEECH aka SENTENCE OUTLINE. (Remember: writing a word outline before your sentence outline helps you create map for where you will be headed. A word outline is

only key words. A sentence outline displays entire citations and complete sentences). Basically, a sentence outline is a fully written research paper with the letters and numbers of an outline included below. You will do 1st a word outline and

2nd a sentence outline.

First name Last nameMr. Sanders

Informative SpeechDate you present your speech

Hour of your speech

The creative title of your Informative Speech goes here

General Purpose: To informSpecific Purpose: To inform the audience about (insert your topic here).Central Idea / Thesis Statement: (Insert your thesis statement here) Remember: C+B+R

I. Introduction[NOTE: You do not have to use my exact words below or the exact outline for anything. These are just ideas to help get you started.]A. Attention getter: (No rhetorical questions may go here. Please use one of the other 7 types of AGD’s in the PowerPoint provided to you before the Demonstration Unit. Be Creative!)

B. Link: (How are you going to connect your attention getting to your thesis statement?)

C. Thesis: Therefore, it is imperative that we learn about… because…

D. Preview: So today, we will examine 1st talk about… 2nd… before finally….

II. Body [NOTE: Your speech may not need all the numbers (sub points) and letters (examples/statistics) listed below. Every speech will have a different amount of main points and sub points. It all depends on your topic and your subpoints]

Transition to point 1: First let’s take a look at….

A. Body 11.

a.b.

2. a.b.

3.a. b.

Transition to point 2: Now that we’ve looked at… let’s take a look at….

B. Body 21.

a. b. c.

2.

26 of 27

a. b. c.

Transition to point 3: Finally, now that we’ve looked at… let’s take a look at….

C. Body 31.

a.b.

2. a.b.

3.a.b.

III. ConclusionA. So today, we talked about 1st… 2nd… and finally…B. (Insert memorable last line that ties to your AGD)

Oral Citation’s should look like this.Remember you must cite the words that are not yours BEFORE you say them.

According to (source where you got the information) as of (date you retrieved the information), “direct quotation goes here blah blah blah.”

Bold your sources (New York Times, SJR, MSNBC, etc) so they are easy for me to pick out of your outline.

Underline any and all information you did NOT write. This way I won’t accuse you of cheating or plagiarism.

Remember you need 3 Oral citations from credible sources. Google News is better to use that just Google Search.

Plagiarism of any kind will result in a 0 / 100 for this assignment. This happens every year! Please don’t be “that” student.

Bibliography Example**Look at the MLA citations PPT on my teacher website to help with your own bibliography. (This is just an example)**

Brown, Alexandra. "The Rise of the New Restaurant." Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature 12.6 (2009): 48-62. Print.

Carter, L., and Margaret Shaffer. “A Quick Fix.” Good Housekeeping Mar. 2006: 143-48. Print.

Mayer, Sarah. Creating a Healthy Lifestyle. New York: Harper, 2008.

27 of 27