Achieving Emphasis

Objective:

To teach students how to achieve emphasis in writing and speaking by using various techniques, improving clarity, and engaging the audience effectively.

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Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction to Emphasis (15 minutes)

Goals:

• Define emphasis and its importance in communication.
• Understand how emphasis enhances clarity and engagement.

Activities:

1. Class Discussion:
   • Ask students, “What makes a message or statement stand out?”
   • Discuss examples of emphasis in everyday situations (e.g., advertising slogans, speeches).
2. Video Clip Analysis:
   • Watch a short speech or advertisement.
   • Identify words, phrases, or techniques that create emphasis.

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2. Techniques for Emphasis in Writing (20 minutes)

Goals:

• Learn specific techniques to highlight important points in writing.

Activities:

1. Lecture/Explanation:
   • Techniques to achieve emphasis:
     • Repetition: Reiterating key points.
     • Parallelism: Using similar structures for impact.
     • Punctuation: Using dashes, italics, or bold for focus.
     • Sentence Position: Placing key information at the beginning or end.
2. Exercise:
   • Provide a paragraph without emphasis.
   • Students rewrite it using one or more emphasis techniques.

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3. Techniques for Emphasis in Speech (25 minutes)

Goals:

• Practice using vocal and non-verbal techniques to emphasize key points.

Activities:

1. Demonstration:
   • Instructor demonstrates varying tone, volume, and pauses to emphasize words.
2. Group Practice:
   • Students work in pairs to read a short script, practicing vocal emphasis and gestures.
3. Feedback Circle:
   • Students present to small groups and receive feedback on their delivery.

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4. Emphasis in Visual Presentation (15 minutes)

Goals:

• Learn how to use visual aids effectively to highlight key points.

Activities:

1. Example Analysis:
   • Show slides with and without emphasis (e.g., bold text, highlighted colors).
   • Discuss which is more engaging and why.
2. Design Activity:
   • Students create a simple slide emphasizing a key message.

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5. Application Activity (30 minutes)

Goals:

• Apply emphasis techniques in a short presentation or written piece.

Activities:

1. Mini-Presentation:
   • Students prepare and deliver a 2-minute speech using at least three emphasis techniques.
   • Peers provide constructive feedback on the use of emphasis.
2. Writing Task:
   • Write a persuasive paragraph emphasizing a key idea.
   • Share with the class and discuss the techniques used.