Listening Report Assignment

**LISTENING REPORT OPTION #1: You are to attend a live presentation (an informative OR

persuasive speech) given on campus by a visiting speaker or a presentation within the

community. The speech you discuss must occur during the current semester. Attach any

pamphlets, handouts or any other information given out during the presentation.

NOTE: YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT by listening

to any of your current class professors.

LISTENING REPORT OPTION #2: You may complete this assignment using the website

www.AmericanRhetoric.com. Choose a speech and complete the assignment as if you were

present when the speech actually occurred. Do not use movie speeches. IF you choose this

option, you MUST conduct any necessary research to answer ALL questions asked (e.g., #1--

what TIME did this speech take place? and #3—demos of audience?).

ASSIGNMENT DIRECTIONS: For this assignment, you need to READ ALL questions below.

After attending/observing the presentation, you will write a 2-3 page paper, in narrative form,

adhering to APA formatting requirements. Be sure that you respond to each and every one of

the questions below within your paper. If you do not understand the question, refer to your

textbook and/or ask your instructor. You can answer multiple questions in the same sentence,

but be sure to cover everything, and try to avoid simple yes/no answers. EXPLAIN your

thoughts. It’s best to divide your paper into each of the sections listed below.

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Make sure your paper is typed, double-spaced, 12pt font Times New Roman or Ariel, and BE

SURE TO INCLUDE a "Works Cited" section following your last paragraph. You MUST cite

the speaker and any support she/he uses.

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The Setting

1) What was the date and starting time of the speech?

Ans: Date: June 6th, 2010

Time: 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Location: TEDx Houston

2) Who was the speaker?

Ans: Brene Brown

3) Who was the audience (what was the size and demographic make-up?)?

Ans: People from Houston and local audience. During the speech mostly younger people

have attended speech. Also, there were few older and family groups in this TEDx speech.

4) What topic did the speaker address?

Ans: The Power of Vulnerability

The Speaker

5) Did you have any information about the speaker prior to attending the speech?

Ans: No, I did not have any prior information about the speaker.

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 6) Was the speaker introduced?

Ans: Yes, the speaker was introduced before the speech starts.

7) What qualifications for speaking on this subject did the speaker have?

Ans: The speaker has a Ph.D. degree in Philosophy, and she is a vulnerability researcher and

storyteller.

8) What was your initial impression of the speaker?

Ans: The way the speaker introduced herself on why she called as a storyteller instead of the

researcher.

9) How would you rate the speaker's ethos?

Ans: During the speech, she was funny and good at what she is going to talk about so I

would rate the speaker ethos, 8 out of 10.

Introduction

10) Did the speaker gain attention effectively?

Ans: Of course, she did gain attention during the introduction and why she likes to be called

a storyteller but not as a researcher.

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11) What type of opening device was used in the introduction?

Ans: She used a pictured quote in the introduction. Which was, ‘If you cannot measure it, it

does not exist.

12) What was the thesis?

Ans: From the given quote she made the point that vulnerability code out for everyone to see

and lean into the discomfort of the people.

13) Was it clearly stated?

Ans: Yes, it was clear to start the topic.

14) Did the speaker make any attempt to dispose the audience favorably toward the

speaker and/or the topic?

Ans: No, she did not attempt any dispose the audience favorably toward the topic.

15) How?

Ans: She just begin with the topic.

16) Did the speaker clearly preview the main points?

Ans: I am not sure, but she had clear points about what thing she wanted to talk about.

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Body

17) What were the main points? (with these points out incomplete sentence)

Ans: In my view, there were three points. The first point was Connection, the ability to feel

connected is neurobiologically. The second point was a sense of worthiness, a strong sense of

love and belonging they believe that they are worthy. The third point was courage,

compassion, sense of courage.

18) What Organizational pattern did the speaker use? (Chronological, topical, cause-

effect, etc.)

Ans: Topical organizational pattern.

19) What types of supporting material did the speaker use for each main point?

Ans: Shame and fear. These two supporting materials she uses to explain the main points as

the fear of disconnection. Shame and fear lead to excruciating vulnerability. We make the

uncertain certain.

20) Was the support relevant and adequate?

Ans: Yes, the support was relevant and adequate.

21) Were the source citations included and clear?

Ans: No, there were no source citations included during the speech. After doing research I

found that her work was the source of the citation.

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 22) Did the speaker make use of good transitions?

Ans: Yes, she used good transitions to make the audience listen and understand.

23) a. If Informative, did the speech expand your knowledge of the topic?

Ans: Yes, this speech expands my knowledge in this topic that what is vulnerability.

This topic I was not aware of before.

b. If Persuasive, did you find the arguments/appeals compelling?

Ans: This speech was not persuasive.

Conclusion

24) Was there an adequate summary?

Ans: Yes, when we stop screaming and start listening, we are kinder and gentler to the

people around us and we are kinder and gentler to ourselves.

25) What type of closing device was used?

Ans: Let us be seen, love with our whole hearts. Practice gratitude leans into joy, believe that

I am enough.

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Delivery

26) Did the speaker use appropriate eye contact, vocal variety, gesture, tone?

Ans: Yes, she did make eye contact, vocal, gesture, and tone. Also, she makes the audience

sit during the speech and makes them laugh.

27) Did the speaker articulate clearly and pronounce words correctly?

Ans: Yes, she articulates clearly and pronounces words correctly.

28) How did the speaker’s rate and volume impact delivery?

Ans: She has good volume during the speech, and she expressed the laugh, emotion,

emphasis, and meaning.

29) What were the strongest aspects of the speaker’s delivery?

Ans: The strongest aspects of the speaker’s delivery were that she knows what she is saying.

As she was researcher-storyteller. She made all things easy to understand and make you feel

how important is vulnerability.

30) What were the weakest aspects of the speaker’s delivery?

Ans: In my view, she was perfect during the speech, but I believe if she cleared all main

points, body and conclusion announced then it would be easier to understand all the points.

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Overall

31) What was your overall impression of the speech?

Ans: My impression of the speech was amazing. Now, I know how important vulnerability is

in our life.

32) How would you rate this speech? (5=A, 4=B, 3=C, 2=D, 1=F)

Ans: I would rate 5=A for this speech.

33) Include an APA cite for this following your last paragraph.

Ans: Brown, B. (June 6th, 2010). The Power of Vulnerability [Video]. TED Conferences.

https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?

utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

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Format

APA style formatting—typed, double-spaced 12pt font Times New Roman, Calibri, or Ariel.

Essay MUST be written in a narrative format, using complete sentences. Essay MUST

also employ appropriate grammar, word usage, and spelling.

Works Cited

Provide APA cites, with parentheticals in your text, where necessary. ALL papers MUST

have a minimum of one citation—for the speaker. But if you write about the presentation

of a minister who uses the Bible, the Toraj, the Koran, et al., you should cite those works.

You will lose 3 points for every question you do not answer, and additional points

Will be deducted for poor grammar, typographical / spelling errors, and improper

syntax. You are welcome encouraged! to use the LU Writing Center for proofing

prior to your class submission, but this must be your own work (in keeping with the

guidelines we’ve established in the Dept of Comm & Media Integrity Policy. ANY

PLAGIARIZED WORK will receive a grade of ZERO, and authors will be prosecuted

for violation of university and departmental codes of conduct.

-- end --

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 On June 6th,2010, Brene Brown gave speech on ‘The Power of Vulnerability’ at TEDx

Houston at 7:00 pm and lasted for 30 minutes. The main audience were the youth, local

residents and some senior citizens with their families.

I never heard about the speaker before, and no one suggested me about her speeches. One

day I was looking at the TEDx website and I got my attention on topic called ‘The Power of

Vulnerability’. The speaker was introduced before the speech began. Mrs. Brown has a Ph.D.

on Philosophy, and she is a vulnerability researcher and storyteller. The way speaker

introduced herself as why she is known as a storyteller instead of the researcher and what

topics she was going to cover seemed very enthusiastic and funny which made her more

attractive and communicative.

In the introduction of the speech, she used a pictured quote which stated, ‘If you cannot

measure it, it does not exist’, further explaining that the code to vulnerability is to see and

lean into the discomfort of people which was clearly stated. At the same time, she did not

dispose the audience to any favor towards her.

There were three main points she focused on, Connection, Worthiness and Courage

which she collectively defined in a Topical organizational pattern as the ability of

connecting, sense of worthiness and compassion of courage respectively. These points were

cleared more as she used shame and fear as great convincing supporting material which is

adequately relevant. Though here source of citations were solely based on her work

experience.

After hearing her entire speech one can easily conclude that a conversation is more

effective when one understands the worth and importance of the speaker at the same time

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persuade with love. The whole speech was informative as well as persuasive as she used

appropriate eye contact, vocality and gesture. Though there were some aspects in her

delivery of speech that were weak such as she did not clear all the main points with

incomplete explanation.

My overall impression of the speaker was amazing as she made me realized the

importance of vulnerability. In my opinion I would rate her A (5) for her speech.

Brown, B. (June 6th, 2010). The Power of Vulnerability [Video]. TED Conferences:

https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?

utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

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