We Should All Be Feminists

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Your Talk: Delivering a Persuasive Speech”

In this activity, students will write a persuasive speech on a topic that they feel passionate about, then present their speech in front of their peers.

Imagine that you are given a 10-minute slot at an upcoming public talk to speak about a topic that you are passionate about, in a way similar to how Adichie spoke about feminism. In this Activity, you will have the opportunity to write and deliver a speech for this talk. Consider the following questions as you draft your speech:

• What topics are you passionate about?
• Why are you passionate about this topic?
• How has this topic affected you?
• What personal experiences do you have with this topic?
• In your opinion, what about this topic needs to be changed or transformed? How?

After each speech is presented, student audience members will provide feedback to comment on a detail they liked and information they learned. Students will also write a reflection or journal to respond to other students’ arguments. 

Teaching Suggestion: This activity encourages students to combine their creativity with their knowledge of persuasive speech writing. Prior to this activity, students might rewatch Adichie’s speech (linked under “Paired Resource”) to evaluate her form of delivery, the presentation of the material, and how she focuses on her experiences. In particular, consider highlighting how Adichie’s speech is not burdened by statistics; rather, she uses her background as a writer to paint pictures of specific situations for the audience, ultimately delivering the speech in a more personal and intimate manner. Consider encouraging students to do the same by incorporating their own experiences, anecdotal evidence, and relatable language in order to connect with the audience.

Additionally, this activity could be an opportunity to have students practice utilizing the rhetorical triangle (i.e., pathos, ethos, logos) as a form of persuasion in speech writing. In this vein, students may first analyze how Adichie uses these rhetorical devices in her speech before applying them to their own work. (This also links with the Long Answer question in the “Cumulative Exam Questions” section.)

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who may struggle with delivering a speech on their own may opt to write and deliver a speech as a group, making the speaking requirement significantly shorter depending on the size of the group. Alternatively, students who are uncomfortable with delivering a speech to the class may audio or video record their speech for the teacher to review. Slides or other creative visuals to display their work can replace the speech delivery component altogether. More advanced students might write a persuasive essay on whether they agree with Adichie’s argument on gender and feminism. Based on the level, maturity, and rapport of the class, students may then share their speeches with the class in a debate-like setting, opening the conversation to a fruitful and constructive discussion.