Spoken English, Year 8: more practice

Summarising

HintThey are gathering the threads together.

The whySummarising helps a group see where it has got to and what is left.

'What evidence do we have for that?'

HintAsk for support rather than insult.

The whyA challenge should test the idea, not the person.

Dominating the discussion

HintFair shares matter in a group.

The whyA good discussion shares speaking time among everyone.

Someone who argues against an idea to test it

HintA role for testing, not for winning.

The whyThey may agree with the idea but argue against it to find weaknesses.

Where and how actors move on stage

HintThink of a plan marked out on the boards.

The whyBlocking is decided in rehearsal so that movement helps tell the story.

A cue

HintMiss it and there is an awkward silence.

The whyActors learn their cues so scenes run without gaps.

A pause

HintIt is also the name of a button on a music player.

The whyA pause gives the line extra weight and makes the audience wait for it. Silence is part of the performance, not a gap in it.

One main message runs through every section

HintA thread holds beads together.

The whyEach part of the presentation should connect back to that central idea.

About three

HintFewer than you might think.

The whyToo many points blur together, so choose the few that matter most.

Tell the audience the point it makes

HintA visual should earn its place.

The whyThe graph gives the evidence, and you explain what it means.