Exploring different kinds of assignments

Almost all of us will have to engage in impromptu speaking in the workforce at some point or another, whether it is in a team meeting or an impromptu encounter with a supervisor or colleague. Impromptu speaking is a speech given on the spot with little to no preparation, yet almost always with some advance knowledge on the topic. Our friends at Forbes offer some insight into effective impromptu speaking Links to an external site..

Sometimes our students learn the jargon, but we’re not really sure they understand it all. What better way to check understanding and allow students to really own their research in your class than by having them explain it...to people with no background in your discipline? Developed by the University of Queensland, the 3-Minute Thesis® encourages students to offer a three-minute oral summary of their research to an audience of educated laypeople. Learn more about the 3-Minute Thesis, how to structure one in your class, and watch samples by visiting the University of Queensland Links to an external site.. Check out UT-Austin's adapted layout and rules Links to an external site..

Help students prepare to “pitch” themselves or an idea quickly and effectively. An elevator pitch is a quick synopsis of one's background and experience. People use them to create interest in a project, idea, or product –or in themselves. A good elevator pitch should last no longer than a short elevator ride of 20 to 30 seconds, hence the name. Read The Muse’s step-by-step guide Links to an external site. to creating an effective elevator pitch, and check out advice from the pros over at Forbes Links to an external site..

A lot of presentations try to cover too much content in too little time, and oftentimes that content is packed onto slides. How can we teach students to manage their time and content and use visual communication strategically? Enter Pecha Kucha. Pecha Kucha 20x20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically, so you have to talk along to the images. Some UT faculty have adapted this assignment to fit time constraints of their class, so don’t be afraid to make it work for you! Learn more about Pecha Kucha Links to an external site., share an example Links to an external site. with your students. This assignment is so popular, even Canvas has made a sample rubric for it. Still looking for great tips? Check out Wabisabi Learning’s historical overview and best practices Links to an external site. of Pecha Kucha.

A sales pitch is an individual’s attempt to persuade their audience to buy or believe what they're offering. That offer might be the chance at another meeting, information on your product or service, or a personal pitch all about you. Teach your students the The 3-Part Formula For A Winning Sales Pitch Links to an external site.(the set-up, the conflict, and the resolution) as an organizing schema for effective sales pitches. For more advice and tips on crafting sales pitches, How's Your One Minute Sales Pitch? Links to an external site.

An informative speech is one that intends to educate the audience on a particular topic. If you can, show students videos of presentations your students have given in the past. If you don’t have such resources, you can share with students excellent sample speeches from Belmont Speech Lab Links to an external site.. Watch and analyze the speeches together as a class using your own rubric to help make clear your expectations.

A persuasive speech is a specific type of speech in which the speaker has a goal of convincing the audience to accept their point of view. If you can, show students videos of presentations your students have given in the past. If you don’t have such resources, you can share with students excellent sample speeches from "https://www.youtube.com/user/BelmontSpeechLab/featured Links to an external site.. Watch and analyze the speeches together as a class using your own rubric to help make clear your expectations.

One characteristic that is crucial for all citizens to have is the ability to engage in debate in a civil manner. A debate is a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints. James Madison provides support for faculty thinking through debate assignments Links to an external site.. Proponents of debate across the curriculum argue that students respond to debate because it encourages them to think about the ways that they structure and present their arguments and pushes them to think more critically about others’ comments. For more information about research on debate in the classroom, see Bellon, 2000 and Goodwin, 2003.

Help your students own their developing expertise by creating a panel discussion assignment. Add on a question-and-answer component to help both the panelists and the audience members learn to effectively ask and answer questions! Panel presentations occur throughout the academic, political, and business communities on a daily basis. These kinds of presentations can be formal or informal and occur at professional conferences, organized meetings, community town halls, and board meetings (to name a few). Panel presentations can help students develop confidence in responding to an audience’s questions. Award-winning author Kristin Arnold offers advice Links to an external site. and shares a bonus powerful panelist tip sheet Links to an external site. for panelists to help them prepare.

TED Talks! You know the kind of talks so many academics are giving now (and even more are showing to their students in class)? TED, a non-profit organization, promotes the spreading of ideas by inviting people from all walks of life and disciplines to give talks on different subjects. There's no single formula for a great talk, but there is a secret ingredient that all the best ones have in common. TED curator Chris Anderson shares a video Links to an external site. -along with four ways to make it work for you. TED Talks is also a great resource for advice Links to an external site. from diverse professionals about the keys to making great presentations.