1. Pacing Pacing is speaking at a rate and rhythm that helps the audience comprehend the material. Pacing should not be so fast that listeners can follow but not so slow that you sound unprepared. Pacing Tips – You should use intentional pauses to keep your pace understandable AND to add emphasis to important words and phrases 1.place the / punctuation mark in between key phrases within sentences where you want to take an intentional pause for emphasis 2.physically break up the text on the page to give you space between ideas and sentences

2. Pacing: Example Our first contention / is that DRSS should begin school at 9am / because of the beneficial impacts additional sleep has / on teenagers’ schooling / and safety. First of all, / students benefit academically / from more sleep. In fact, / according to Drs. Wolfson & Carskadon, / Teenagers need on average / 9 1/4 hours / of sleep per night for optimal performance, health and brain development, yet teens average fewer than / 7 hours / per school night. In addition, according to the New York Times, when schools in Minneapolis / delayed their start time, grades / in students’ early classes improved / by a letter grade. This demonstrates that DRSS should begin at 9am / because starting later would give students the benefits / of more sleep / and improved grades. If more sleep during optimal / times leads to higher grades, opportunities for students improve/ in terms of college acceptance, / scholarships / and even internships and awards. Furthermore, these improved grades would benefit students / because they would improve the overall standing of the school, which would attract more students / to fill its classes.

3. Inflection Inflection is speaking words clearly and carefully while raising or lowering the volume or tone of the voice to help the listener focus their attention on key words, phrases and ideas in your speech. This helps you sound personable and helps to draw in your audience. Inflection Tips 1.bold a word that your want to emphasize using inflection or careful pronunciation 2.highlight a word that you do not know how to pronounce or are concerned about saying

4. Inflection: Example Our first contention / is that DRSS should begin school at 9am / because of the beneficial impacts additional sleep has / on teenagers’ schooling / and safety. First of all, / students benefit academically / from more sleep. In fact, / according to Drs. Wolfson & Carskadon, / Teenagers need on average / 9 1/4 hours / of sleep per night for optimal performance, health and brain development, yet teens average fewer than / 7 hours / per school night. In addition, according to the New York Times, when schools in Minneapolis / delayed their start time, grades / in students’ early classes improved / by a letter grade. This demonstrates that DRSS should begin at 9am / because starting later would give students the benefits / of more sleep / and improved grades. If more sleep during optimal / times leads to higher grades, opportunities for students improve/ in terms of college acceptance, / scholarships / and even internships and awards. Furthermore, these improved grades would benefit students / because they would improve the overall standing of the school, which would attract more students / to fill its classes.

5. Mark up your speech Take 15-20 minutes to do the following: 1.Place a / in between phrases where you want to take an intentional pause for emphasis 2.Physically break up your speech on the page to make it easier for you to present. 3.Bold a word that you want to emphasize using inflection or careful pronunciation 4.Highlight words that you do not know how to pronounce or are concerned about saying so that you can look them up online or ask someone to help you pronounce them. 5.When finished, find someone who is arguing the same side as you (affirmative or negative) with whom you can practice delivering your speech. You will need to stay in this classroom to practice.

6. Practice 1.Now that you have formatted your speech, find a partner who is arguing the SAME SIDE as you are (affirmative or negative). 2.Use a timer on your phone to time each person’s speech. 3.If over 2:30, look for details that can be eliminated. 4.If under 1:30, what additional details do you need?