Speech techniques III | Assessment Resource Banks

This task is about recognising techniques used in a college prize-giving speech.

The following excerpts are from a college prize-giving speech.

In each excerpt, bold type indicates a speech-making technique.

The techniques are listed below.

Metaphor	Imperative	Listing	Contrast	Exaggeration
Repetition	Assonance	Use of first person		Onomatopoeia
Alliteration	Conclusion	Humour	Understatement	Rhetorical questions

Your task is to identify which technique is used in each speech excerpt, and describe its effect. The first one has been done for you.

Question 1Change answer

b) "Congratulations to the prize winners on your performance, your inquiry, your dedication, and your creativity."

i) Feature: MetaphorImperativeListingContrastExaggerationRepetitionAssonanceRhetorical questionsOnomatopoeiaAlliterationConclusionHumourUnderstatementUse of first person

ii) Effect:

Question 1Change answer

c) "There are new meanings about 'country' that are being discussed by the media, on the web, at conferences, and in classrooms, and this is what I have been invited to talk about tonight."

i) Feature: MetaphorImperativeListingContrastExaggerationRepetitionAssonanceRhetorical questionsOnomatopoeiaAlliterationConclusionHumourUnderstatementUse of first person

ii) Effect:

Question 1Change answer

d) "Who are we? What are we? Why are we? Do we sink? Or do we swim? What do we draw from our past into the present to create our future?"

i) Feature: MetaphorImperativeListingContrastExaggerationRepetitionAssonanceRhetorical questionsOnomatopoeiaAlliterationConclusionHumourUnderstatementUse of first person

ii) Effect:

Question 1Change answer

e) "The great New Zealand poet, Allen Curnow, addressed the sense of displacement, dislocation, and unease. Tonight, I've brought confidence, optimism, and hopefully some inspiration for the future."

i) Feature: MetaphorImperativeListingContrastExaggerationRepetitionAssonanceRhetorical questionsOnomatopoeiaAlliterationConclusionHumourUnderstatementUse of first person

ii) Effect:

Question 1Change answer

f) "What is the one word that captures the grit, guts, and genius we as New Zealanders consistently and collectively project?"

i) Feature: MetaphorImperativeListingContrastExaggerationRepetitionAssonanceRhetorical questionsOnomatopoeiaAlliterationConclusionHumourUnderstatementUse of first person

ii) Effect:

Question 1Change answer

g) "Personally, I am not too keen on the term 'knowledge economy'. It sounds too much like a three-year algebra re-education camp to me – and with my record in mathematics, you'll understand why I am wary."

i) Feature: MetaphorImperativeListingContrastExaggerationRepetitionAssonanceConclusionHumourUnderstatementUse of first person

ii) Effect:

Question 1Change answer

h) "I have got four quick thoughts to leave you with on this important event, as many of you take a next step along the way of your dreams, and others are still putting the pieces together."

i) Feature: MetaphorImperativeListingContrastExaggerationRepetitionAssonanceRhetorical questionsOnomatopoeiaAlliterationConclusionHumourUnderstatementUse of first person

ii) Effect: