class speech

[wondering]

I am doing a speech for one of my classes and we had five choices to do the speech on...i chose capital punishment of course because i have always been for it. I was using this site as a reference and i discovered even more reason to be pro. I used some of the suggestions you gave other people and my teacher thought it was very good. Is there anything I can use just to tell my friends why they should be pro to...they are not really for or against it but I really feel that more people need to know about this...sorry if this doesn't really make since, I really don't know any other way to put this because it makes since to me lol

[SkyLoom]

wondering said:

Is there anything I can use just to tell my friends why they should be pro to...they are not really for or against it but I really feel that more people need to know about this...sorry if this doesn't really make since, I really don't know any other way to put this because it makes since to me lol

Why do you think more people need to know about this and what "this" is it you want them to know about?

You are right in saying that most people don't think about the death penalty very much at all, but young people tend to believe that nothing is dangerous. Your friends probably cannot imagine that they could be murdered, and fear is what causes most people to espouse the death penalty.

It would be interesting to know how your parents taught you right from wrong. Were you punished pretty severely when you did something wrong?

[Donnie]

wondering said:

Is there anything I can use just to tell my friends why they should be pro to...

The first thing to do is to listen to your friends. The second thing to do is to continue to increase the depth of your knowledge and understanding. Most people don't want to drink from a firehose, but when they are thirsty a few sips of pure cold, water will satisfy thiem. You will be able to tell when they want more and how much more they want. There is no hurry. There natural sense of fairness and desire for justice will help them understand how beneficial the DP is to all.

Your age determines what type of information would be most useful. If somebody asks a question that you don't know the answer to, don't worry. Just tell them that you need to think about that. Then come here with the specific question. The question can be asked privately and answered privately via the message feature whenever you prefer that method. But you have to register to use that feature. There is always help available.

I was against the DP for about 20 years and it took me about another twenty years to go from being ambivilent to being active for the DP. So you are already 40 years ahead of me. Many of us have heard all of the anti-DP asssertions and arguments and some of use have even used some of them in the past.

There is no such thing as a stupid question. Many of us have raised our own children and watched neices and nephews grow up, so we have a lot of experience with people of various ages going through various struggles. I have raised two daughters who have now graduated from college.

[californian]

Advice given here so far is good, except for Skyloon, who's mentally defective.

Let me give you some tips on public speaking, as I'm very experienced at it. I'm a city councilman.

First of all, don't rush through the speech. Young people today tend to speak quickly anyway; don't. Practice your speech, and when you do, slow your speech to the point where it seems just a bit too slow to you. that will be just about right to the audience.

Secondly, make eye contact with your audience. Don't keep your head down and read; nothing is more boring. Pause for a few seconds between paragraphs and pick out a new person in the audience to address.

Two final things. A five second pause seems like an eternity to you. it doesn't to the audience. Gather your thoughts and pronouce well. And last, but not least: you can hear the quaver in your voice. the audience can't.

Good luck, and knock 'em dead! (pun intended).

[Rev. Agave]

Also, remember to end your speech with a resounding NEXT!!!

[Deleted]

wondering said:

I am doing a speech for one of my classes and we had five choices to do the speech on...i chose capital punishment of course because i have always been for it. I was using this site as a reference and i discovered even more reason to be pro. I used some of the suggestions you gave other people and my teacher thought it was very good. Is there anything I can use just to tell my friends why they should be pro to...they are not really for or against it but I really feel that more people need to know about this...sorry if this doesn't really make since, I really don't know any other way to put this because it makes since to me lol

Just a question. Why have you always been for the death penalty? Tell your friends why you are pro. If you don't know what to tell them, then you probably do not why you favor capital punishment. Then you should get informed.
By the way, Skyloom is a very intelligent and wise person. Just being an anti does not make her "mentally defective". I am an anti, too. And I have very good reasons for that.
For your speech: Get informed. Learn about the anti position. Question your own position. Find arguments for and against capital punishment. Be honest to yourself. Finally make a decision based on rational arguments. Now you should be prepared quite well for your speech.
Never talk too fast. Find a clear structure. A nice introduction (either a historical overview or a recent case in your area) would make the reader interested in the topic. Use real arguents. By saying something like "The fu**ing pieces of sh*t deserve it!!!" you only show the auditory you are an idiot. Don't get emotional (you may do that in a personal statement at the end of your speech).

Good luck!

The Bavarian

[Michael]

bavarian said:

wondering said:

I am doing a speech for one of my classes and we had five choices to do the speech on...i chose capital punishment of course because i have always been for it. I was using this site as a reference and i discovered even more reason to be pro. I used some of the suggestions you gave other people and my teacher thought it was very good. Is there anything I can use just to tell my friends why they should be pro to...they are not really for or against it but I really feel that more people need to know about this...sorry if this doesn't really make since, I really don't know any other way to put this because it makes since to me lol

Just a question. Why have you always been for the death penalty? Tell your friends why you are pro. If you don't know what to tell them, then you probably do not why you favor capital punishment. Then you should get informed.
By the way, Skyloom is a very intelligent and wise person. Just being an anti does not make her "mentally defective". I am an anti, too. And I have very good reasons for that.
For your speech: Get informed. Learn about the anti position. Question your own position. Find arguments for and against capital punishment. Be honest to yourself. Finally make a decision based on rational arguments. Now you should be prepared quite well for your speech.
Never talk too fast. Find a clear structure. A nice introduction (either a historical overview or a recent case in your area) would make the reader interested in the topic. Use real arguents. By saying something like "The fu**ing pieces of sh*t deserve it!!!" you only show the auditory you are an idiot. Don't get emotional (you may do that in a personal statement at the end of your speech).

Good luck!

The Bavarian

Don´t know whether they use such a dialectical approach in the US, Valentin.... Debating the pro´s and con´s at lenght, well it´s highly academic here, but might be seen as undecided and delaying there.

I´d be very serious in my discussion of the side that I am not taking, because that can somehow rob the other side of their arguments. And of course that appears highly eloquent.

[Donnie]

bavarian said:

By the way, Skyloom is a very intelligent and wise person. Just being an anti does not make her "mentally defective".

Generally your statements aren't too irrational and your use of English as a second language is impressive. But I was stunned to see this comment about skylom. I cannnot believe that you have missed all of the inane things that she has posted.

Wisdom and skyloom are not allowed in the same building.

[Guest]

I would just like to know a little bit more about capital punishment because i am also doing a speech about capital punishment and would like to know why it was banned in the first place

[crappieboy]

We need pros to be more active advocating their position. It is rare that victim members advocate, their lives have become a living hell.