Microphone

The Art of Rhetoric

The English Department is excited to share the return of the long-standing public speaking event ‘The Art of Rhetoric’. After a long hiatus due to COVID-19, the competition celebrated the power of language, with the chosen finalists from each English class delivering powerful and thought-provoking speeches which left the audience entertained.

The speech topics (listed below) were inspired by memorable song titles, requiring students to deliver a short speech that had a lasting impact on the audience. The interpretation of these songs allowed each student to showcase their unique perspective and bring the lyrics to life in new and exciting ways.

Throughout this unit, students from Years 7 to 9 developed an understanding of the key elements of speech writing and public speaking, gaining an appreciation of the hard work required to deliver a meaningful speech.

The Art of Rhetoric is an important reminder of the power of public speaking and the positive impact it can have on individuals and communities. It was a testament to the hard work that our students put into their public speaking skills, allowing for the unforgettable return of this important competition.

The English Department would like to extend our gratitude to the participants who made the event possible.

We look forward to the next public speaking event and the opportunities it will bring to all involved.

Congratulations to the winner and runner-up of each year group:

Year 7: Oliver Dorney (Winner) and Charles Griffin (Runner Up)

Year 8: George Scammell (Winner) and Jayden Pan (Runner Up)

Year 9: Angus Leslie (Winner) and Callum Zhu (Runner Up)

Speech Topics:

  • You can’t always get what you want.
  • Go your own way.
  • Everybody wants to rule the world.
  • All you need is love.
  • Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.

Ms Z Doutreband
MIC Assisting English (USYD Partnership and Competitions)