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ORAL COMMUNICATION Read the sample speech below, and then, edit the speech

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ORAL COMMUNICATION

Read the sample speech below, and then, edit the speech. Underline the part which you think needs editing for focus, clarity, concision, continuity, variety, and impact and beauty. Then, write the revised version in another page. Put the principle you used after the last paragraph of your revised version of the paragraph.

 

Speech Title: May Fifteen

 

May 15 of this year, I woke up with a happy heart. I thought to myself, "when I reach 50 years old, 60 or beyond, I will look back to this day and smile." Then, I paid attention to my college graduation picture, framed on a 4x6 decorative wood edging emblazoned with beautiful memories. I reached for it, and held it closely, and uttered,"10 years, and I think you did a pretty good job!" I slowly put it back to the side table, off to my working station across my sliding window to fulfill one in my daily routine: journal writing. Then, I started: Dear journal, "In my 10years as a member of the noblest profession in the universe, I have encountered several influential, inspiring and fabulous people. So, today, as a tribute, I'm going to write about them, starting off with my top three favorites".To begin with, I did not like my first pick. She was someone who would always, always disagree with my ideas and decisions. I remember one time while I asked her to sign my college admission papers, she was infuriated because of my choice because I ticked Mass Communications as my priority. It was a very long battle of verbal argument. As expected, I did not win. Another, I came home from school sharing I would want to extract the tooth of my lab partner without an anesthesia because he's irresponsible and ridiculous. Instead of letting me vent and giving me a back rub, she defended the behavior of my lab partner saying, "He must have a bad day. You have to understand." Precisely, she's a devil's advocate. But, I have loved her. In fact, I have been playing as a devil's advocate since college. I think it's important to see a situation from different perspectives. In that sense, I can think critically and make reasonable decisions. In the academic context, I employ it as a strategy to make my students be effective communicators, critical and creative thinkers, service-driven citizens, and reflective life-long learners through exposing them to several relevant activities. I learned this from her, from someone I know a devil's advocate. However, she left me. And for once, it broke my heart. If United Kingdom has the late Margaret Thatcher, and China has Wu Yi, I have a friend, too, an Iron Lady who is my second choice. And, I'm lucky to have known her. Coined by Russian journalist Captain Yuri Gavrilov in 1976, the iron metaphor is used to describe a lady who is "strong-willed". Strong-willed, that's a perfect word that describes my friend. I was in grade six back then when I witnessed the misery that happened to her family. I knew how it felt though I was still younger. Their business went bankrupt; her husband was hospitalized fighting against death; and, she was falling downward spiral. But, she did not let go. She stood her ground, fought back, and turned every tragedy into triumph. That's why she's an Iron Lady to me. Being strong-willed and turning tragedy into triumph are lessons which I learned from my Iron Lady friend. Had I not applied these lessons to my personal and professional life, I would have lost my sanity and remained miserable. However, she left me. And for the second time, it broke my heart. Of course, we all have heard the story about a university professor who sought a Japanese master for enlightenment about his questions on Zen. The master served the professor with tea, poured the cup full, and kept on pouring. The professor suddenly said, "It is overflowing". The master replied, "You are like this cup. I cannot show you Zen unless you empty your cup." I first learned this story from my third choice, i.e., my teacher who I used to call master. That was supposed to be a life-changing tale for me because I was very stubborn and unreceptive back then. But, my master taught me to be more open with new perspectives and continue to seek inspirations from other people who I can call masters, too, and to absorb and just filter later. As Bruce Lee said, "Absorb what is useful." Hopefully, after I have taken everything in, I will have evolved into a better educator, just like my master and ultimately, a better creative person. I want to reach that "zen point", where everything is intuitive and instinctive, where teaching and I are one (like the samurai and the sword are one), where I can see beyond what my eyes tell me as what swordsman Miyamoto Musashi said. Yes, I am aware of the dangers of having too many masters. But mixed martial arts taught us that we can learn different fighting styles from different masters, and eventually, evolve into a well-rounded warrior. I guess the secret lies in keeping an open mind. I learned that from my master. So, I just make sure that when I meet other people and listen to their stories, I go with an empty cup. Nevertheless, she left me. Again, it broke my heart. Right after I signed on my journal entry, I heard euphonous voices of these three personalities fused into one calling my name. It was my mom. She came in to my room with two pieces of cake each shaped with letters P and J enough to be carried by her hands. The letters are initials of my first name- Philippe John. Planted on the edge of each cake were five tiny well-lit candles. I stood from my post, grabbed the pieces from my mom's shaky hands, and put them on my desk. Then, I hugged her. It was one of the tightest hugs I had given her. And, she told me, "You're now a decade young teacher. Way to go, my love, and I promise I will not leave you anymore. Never. "I couldn't thank her more. May 15 of this year, I woke up with a happy heart. And, again. I thought to myself, "when I reach 50 years old, 60 or beyond, I will look back to this day again and again and again."