I Have a Dream

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration
for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago a great American in whose symbolic shadow we stand today signed the
Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beckoning light of hope to
millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a
joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later the life of the
Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.

One hundred years later the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We
hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of
former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of
injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom
and justice.

I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by
the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its Governor having
his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama
little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as
sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, “GETTYSBURG ADDRESS” (19 NOVEMBER 1863)

[1] Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation,
conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

[2] Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so
conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We
have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave
their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

[3] But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate-we can not hallow-this
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our
poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but
it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the
unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us
to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take
increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we
here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall
have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people
shall not perish from the earth.
 Elizabeth I’s Tilbury Speech

My loving people,

We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety to take heed how we
commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery. But I assure you, I do not
desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people.

Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my
chiefess strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and
therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and
disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you
all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my
blood, even in the dust.

I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a
king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince
of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm: to which rather than any
dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general,
judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.

I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do
assure you on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. In the meantime, my lieutenant
general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy
subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp,
and your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my
God, of my kingdom, and of my people.
 Speech Rubric

Speaker’s name: _______________________ Evaluator: __________________________

Criterion Rating Rating Rating Rating Score

Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs
Improvement
Points 10-9 Points 9-8 Points 8-7 Points 7-6
Eye Contact Eye contact Eye contact Eye contact Little or no eye
with audience with audience with audience contact
virtually all the less than 80% less than 75%
time (except of the time of the time
for brief
glances at
notes)
Use of Use of Use of Use of Use of
Language language language does language language is
contributes to not have causes inappropriate
effectiveness negative potential
of the speech, impact, and confusion,
and vocalized vocalized and/or
pauses pauses vocalized
(um uh er etc.) (um uh er etc.) pauses
not distracting not distracting (um uh er etc.)
are distracting
Body Body Body Body Body
language language, language, language, language,
gestures, and gestures, and facial gestures, and
facial facial expressions facial
expressions expressions and gestures expressions are
adds greatly to compliment lack variety lacking or
the message message and inappropriate
spontaneity

Clarity Speaks clearly Speaks clearly Speaks clearly Often mumbles

and distinctly and distinctly and distinctly or can not be
all the time nearly all the most of the understood
with no time with no time with no with more than
mispronounced more than one more than two three
words mispronounced mispronounced mispronounced
word words words
Time Within allotted Within 10% of Within 20% of Not within
time allotted time allotted time 20% of allotted
 time
(Adapted from Dan Rooney)