Sample 1A: Speech to Inform

Name: Cassidy Kobialka

Audience Analysis

Answer in complete sentences and use examples from your audience analysis questions.

1. How much does your audience already know about your topic and how will you design your speech regarding their level of knowledge? No one could define for me what an engineer does, so I’ll have to cater my explanations to this group’s basic knowledge level.
2. How much interest did the audience have in your topic? How will you make the topic interesting to them? Over 30% of my class is interested in the social sciences, so they have not thought about engineering, but we are all still considering our career choices now.
3. What is your audience’s attitude regarding your topic? How will you address that attitude in your speech? Most of my audience considers engineers to be nerds. I will show them the wide variety of professional careers that engineers go into to dispel this myth.
4. How will the audience demographics (not what you learned on your Audience Analysis) impact the development of your speech? We have more females than males, and engineering is usually considered a “guy” career.

Title: It Ain’t Rocket Science!

General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the career of an aerospace engineer

Introduction

1. Grab Attention: Have you ever wondered what an aileron does or what a winglet s? Have you ever heard the term “transonic” and wondered what it means?
2. Relate to Audience: Okay, I know what you’re thinking—what the heck is she talking about? Or maybe you’re thinking, no…not really—all of that sounds just too complicated. Well, to tell the truth, this stuff “ain’t rocket science!” You could say it takes one to know one. Those strange terms are actually important to you, too, but you just don’t know it yet.
3. Relate to Self (Establish Credibility): Well, I “ain’t no rocket scientist” myself, but considering the fact that five of my family members are engineers, I feel qualified to talk to you about this career. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean I’m going to explain what an aileron does or what a winglet is. That stuff I’ll leave to the rocket scientists. I do think I want to become an engineer, however.
4. Central Idea: Aerospace engineering is one of the most progressive, challenging, and rewarding fields that can be studied today.
5. Specific Purpose: Today, I would like to inform you all about the career of an aerospace engineer.
6. Preview Main Points: I will cover…

1. 1. What engineers do
   2. Why aerospace engineers are important to us
   3. The skills needed in engineering—not the least of which is communication

Transition to #I: So what is engineering?

Speech Body

1. The role of the engineer is perhaps one of the least understood in society, according to Jeff Lenard of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
   1. The comic strip creator, Scott Adams, debunks the mystery of engineering through his famous character, Dilbert; when you read Dilbert, you actually have a pretty good idea of what an engineer does.
   2. Engineering is not a science; engineers generally don’t “do” science.
   3. “Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was.”
   4. Engineering is all around us; as a career it may be the best way to make the biggest contribution to society.

Transition to #II: Let’s talk more about those contributions now.

2. Aerospace engineers are very important to us.
   1. The settings in which aerospace engineers work is varied because of their demand.
   2. Aerospace engineers are needed in NASA, the Department of Defense, with private defense contractors, and aeronautical firms. (NASA)

Transition to #III: One does not simply wake up one day and decide to work for NASA, though.

3. To be successful in this rewarding career, engineers are required to have excellent skills—especially communication.
   1. Entry-level aerospace engineers require at least a BA in aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering.
   2. Courses in propulsion, thermodynamics, aerodynamics, chemistry, physics, and calculus are typical for the aerospace engineer.
   3. There is a tremendous need for engineers to have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Signal End: I could go on talking about engineering all day, but my time is limited, so now it’s time to wrap up.

Conclusion

1. Restate Central Idea: Today, we learned about how aerospace engineering is one of the most progressive, challenging, and rewarding fields that can be studied today.
2. Recap Main Points: I explained to you what an engineer does, why we specifically need aerospace engineers, and the skills needed to become an engineer—especially those skills we learn in this course.
3. Clincher: Who knows? One of you may become a rocket scientist. It really is a high-flying career!

Works Cited

Blain, Celeste. Is There an Engineer Inside You? A Comprehensive Guide to Career Decision in Engineering. (2nd Ed.) New York: Bonamy Publishing, 2015. Print.

“Careers in Aeronautics.” National Aeronautical and Space Administration. NASA.gov. n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2018.

Garder, Geraldine. Careers in Engineering. (2nd Ed.) New York: The McGraw-Hill Company. 2013. Print.