Emotional Speech-writing Activity: Storytelling

Opening to Sydney's speech:

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, My name is Sydney Smith. I am 15 years old. I attend Lee High School in Huntsville, Alabama. I am the oldest of four children. My younger siblings and I live with our mother in a small 3 bedroom apartment. Since our father passed away of colon cancer two years ago my mother has been working  two jobs to care and provide for my siblings and I. I really love school and I enjoy learning. I have always been a straight A student. All of my teachers tell me that I'm very smart and that I shouldn't have any problem being accepted into the best colleges in the country. Two months ago a college fair was held at my high school. I was very excited to meet all of the college representatives and learn about the highlights of each individual college. I collected several college brochures and took them home to share with my mother. I couldn't wait to share my excitement with her. I waited up for my mother to come home from work. I knew she was tired having worked a double shift but I had to share the college brochures with her. Upon reading the highlights and listening to my information about each individual college her smile begin to fade away. She said that she was so very proud of me and that it was her dream for me to attend college. She then explained to me that with the overwhelming costs of living expenses, needs of my siblings and I, growing debt, and paying for the medical bills that were accumulated before my father passed away the added expense of college tuition seemed impossible  It is a dream of mine to attend college someday. However, with the rising costs of college tuition my dream is becoming a nightmare. Surely, there must be something that can be done. Surely, I can't be the only student in this position. Surely, this should not be. 

Analysis:

In the opening to Sydney's speech I am using the emotional strategy of storytelling. Through storytelling Sydney is able to get closer to her audience by telling them what she is going through and some of the challenges in her life. She is telling her story in hopes that the audience will understand the point that she is trying to make in her speech regarding the rising costs of college tuition. She wants the audience to be able to identify with her situation or put themselves in her shoes. By telling the audience her dream to go to college and that her dream may be impossible due to her background and the rising costs of college tuition, she wants to motivate and spark a call for action in the hearts and minds of those who are in a position to bring about change.

This is an effective emotional beginning because Sydney connects with the audience and let's the audience know that she is human. Although she is young, she has a valid concern that needs to be addressed and needs action. Emotions will help the audience remember this young girl who has aspirations of attending college. When she says, "Surely this should not be" she is making an attempt to make an emotional impact on the audience. She wants the audience to take action so that she and many others who are in her position will have the opportunity to fulfill their  dream by attending college without drowning in a sea of debt.