Why this Ted Talk?:
The Ted Talk I chose was of an area of interest for me, as a seasoned educator that enjoys working with special populations. There are several challenges that accompany an exceptional individual, and one of those is learning how to present themselves and their needs to others in and out of the education environment. Another challenge is building the confidence to do so along with the understanding of what accommodations do and do not work for them to be successful in completing tasks. This lack of post high school preparedness and how to address it is of great interest to me and why I chose the following Ted Talk by Kate Kahle as the focus for my assignment submission for an analysis, TedTalk-Kate Kahle.
Introduction:
Introductions are opportunities to grab the audiences attention and to signal that a new topic or idea is being introduced. When giving a speech, introductions help the audience to get to know you, your topic, and to re-focus in case they have drifted off. During an introduction, an attention getter should be given to gain the attention of the audience and to build a connection with them (Vrooman, 2015).
Attention Getter:
Ms. Kahle (Ted Talk Kate Kahle 2021) began her speech by informing us of an accolade she received. She went on to describe how her focus was not on the award but on fabric that was distracting her attention to the point of not being able to appreciate her accomplishment. Her attention getter was the use of a narrative that evoked an unexpected response to highlight her undiagnosed symptoms of autism.
Delivery:
The overall delivery of this TedTalk was well done. In using the speaking rubric from Dr. Vrooman's book, (Vrooman, 2015), Ms. Kahle did not opt to utilize index cards. As an avid index card user, it was impressive to see Ms. Kahle give a meaningful, organized, and controlled speech without them. To address nerves, Ms. Kahle utilized slow, audible breaths that were helpful as a refocusing tool. These breaths were not in excess in length or frequency to be a distraction from the message or to the audience attention. Furthermore, Ms. Kahle informed the audience of her diagnosis of a neurodivergent individual with autism. This is an important factor to mention as there are social components associated with autism that complicate social interactions, which include speaking in front of groups of people. In this scenario, I believe that there should be an alternative rubric to incorporate these challenges. For this analysis, it is a consideration, however, the current rubric is being applied.
Connections:
Making connections with your audience help to keep them engaged (Vrooman, 2015). Planning your speech with connections throughout it will afford more opportunities for engagement and re-engagement of your audience.
Ms. Kahle made her connections with the audience through narratives, providing a historical progression of autism which gained audience empathy, along with the inclusion of the inequitable treatment of women and other minorities in research and in society.
Support:
When making a speech, especially one where you are asking the audience to agree with you or your point of view, it is helpful to utilize facts or numerical data (Vrooman, 2015). Ms. Kahle used narratives, as an actual individual experiencing symptoms of autism, which added to her credibility. Visual aids were also used in the form a PowerPoint slides. There was an appropriate amount of slides, however, a suggestion for the addition of two slides would have aided in audience connection. One slide to be added would be one that encompassed the autism historical timeline mentioned in the speech. Another helpful slide would include a comprehensive list of the organizations that help individuals with autism and support research and their donation information would have been helpful for the audience.
Numerical data and research findings were utilized in the slides in a digestible manner. The use of pie charts fostered a familiarity before numerical data was reviewed. It reduced the potential intimidation of numerical data for audience members that may have an aversion of math or numerical data. Percentages were used to demonstrate data which is also a familiar form of data which aids in maintaining audience attention and in increasing the speaker's credibility (Vrooman, 2015).
Argument:
There were three arguments being presented which included that "autism is not a disease just a different way the brain works, more psychological research is needed for females and other minorities, and that gender mattes in autism" (Kahle, 2021). One point to emphasize is that her arguments were introduced in an organized manner during the speech and were reiterated in the conclusion of the speech.
I'll Leave you with:
In concluding a speech, the main points should be reiterated for the audience to remember. One way that TedTalks do this well is through their use of take aways. These are points that the audience leave the speech with. They are the most meaningful parts or sound bytes the speaker wants the audience to remember and potentially act on.
Persuasive and argumentative speeches can seem intimidating when you are asked to present to the public in attendance and those that will access that speech online, worldwide. Following the speaking rubric provided below can aid in preparing you for a meaningful speech. If you are a person that struggles with pubic speaking, the rubric and recording yourself giving the speech, are good tools to help you identify areas that need improvement prior to the speech. As uncomfortable as this may seem at first, I encourage you to try these tools so that you can see improvement in your speech making and giving skills.
Speaking Critique Rubric:
The Zombie Guide to Public Speaking 2nd "Dead"ition by S.Vrooman
References:
Kahle, K. (2021, September). Kate Kahle: Why autism is often missed in women and girls. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/kate_kahle_why_autism_is_often_missed_in_women_and_girls?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
Vrooman, S.S. (2015). The zombie guide to public speaking 2nd ed.). A MoreBrainz Project.
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