AQA · GCSE · English Language
Course version: 8700 · Version from Sept 2017
Spoken language: presenting information and ideas: selecting and organising information and ideas effectively and persuasively for prepared spoken presentations; planning effectively for different purposes and audiences; making presentations and speeches
This separate spoken-language endorsement assesses your ability to deliver a prepared formal presentation; it is reported separately and does not contribute to the GCSE grade.
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This separate spoken-language endorsement assesses your ability to deliver a prepared formal presentation; it is reported separately and does not contribute to the GCSE grade. The core skills are selecting relevant ideas and organising them effectively and persuasively for a defined purpose and audience. For example, you might inform younger students about a school club or persuade governors to fund a project. Structure the speech with an engaging opening, logically sequenced main points and a purposeful conclusion. Plan delivery as well as wording: controlled pace, emphasis and eye contact help the audience follow the argument. A recycling speech might open with a striking fact, develop three supported reasons and end with a clear call to action, before you respond to questions and feedback.
What earns the marks
- Selects information and ideas that are relevant to the purpose and audience, discarding material that does not support the central argument or topic.
- Organises the presentation with a clear overall structure, such as an engaging opening, logically sequenced main points and a conclusion that reinforces the purpose.
- Uses persuasive techniques appropriately, for example rhetorical questions, direct address, repetition or emotive language, to influence the audience.
- Adapts register, tone and vocabulary to suit different purposes and audiences, such as formal language for a school assembly and more informal language for a peer group.
- Plans effectively by researching content, anticipating audience reactions and preparing responses to possible questions.
- Delivers the presentation with audible, clear speech and controlled pace, using pauses and emphasis to support meaning.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Including too much information without selecting the most relevant points.
Put it right by prioritising two or three key ideas that directly serve the purpose.
Organising points randomly rather than in a logical sequence.
Put it right by planning a clear beginning, middle and end with signposting words.
Ignoring the audience and using inappropriate tone or vocabulary.
Put it right by identifying the audience before planning and choosing language that will engage them.
Reading a script word for word without engaging listeners.
Put it right by using brief notes or cue cards and rehearsing the delivery.
Exam tips
- Before planning, write a one-sentence purpose statement and a short audience profile to guide your choices.
- Use a planning grid with columns for opening, main points, evidence and conclusion to organise your material efficiently.
- Rehearse aloud, timing each section, and adjust your pace, pauses and emphasis to keep the audience engaged.
- Prepare for questions by listing likely queries and brief responses, showing you have considered your audience.
Try the lesson
The start of the Spoken language: presenting information and ideas: selecting and organising information and ideas effectively and persuasively for prepared spoken presentations; planning effectively for different purposes and audiences; making presentations and speeches lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of these is the most useful first step when preparing a spoken presentation?
Listen
This separate spoken-language endorsement assesses your ability to deliver a prepared formal presentation; it is reported separately and does not contribute to the GCSE grade. The core skills are selecting relevant ideas and organising them effectively and persuasively for a defined purpose and audience. For example, you might inform younger students about a school club or persuade governors to fund a project. Structure the speech with an engaging opening, logically sequenced main points and a purposeful conclusion. Plan delivery as well as wording: controlled pace, emphasis and eye contact help the audience follow the argument. A recycling speech might open with a striking fact, develop three supported reasons and end with a clear call to action, before you respond to questions and feedback. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Selects information and ideas that are relevant to the purpose and audience, discarding material that does not support the central argument or topic. Organises the presentation with a clear overall structure, such as an engaging opening, logically sequenced main points and a conclusion that reinforces the purpose. Uses persuasive techniques appropriately, for example rhetorical questions, direct address, repetition or emotive language, to influence the audience. Adapts register, tone and vocabulary to suit different purposes and audiences, such as formal language for a school assembly and more informal language for a peer group. A common slip: Including too much information without selecting the most relevant points. Instead, prioritising two or three key ideas that directly serve the purpose. Exam tip: Before planning, write a one-sentence purpose statement and a short audience profile to guide your choices.
See it
Put it in order
Put these steps in the order they happen.
- 1. Select relevant information and ideas
- 2. Plan structure and persuasive techniques
- 3. Rehearse delivery: pace, pauses, emphasis
- 4. Engaging opening
- 5. Logically sequenced main points
- 6. Purposeful conclusion
- 7. Respond to questions and feedback
- 8. Identify purpose and audience
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Purpose and audience awareness
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Selection and organisation of content
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Persuasive techniques and rhetorical devices
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Planning, rehearsal and delivery
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Purpose and audience awareness
- Planning effectively for different purposes and audiences, so that information and ideas are selected and organised for a defined purpose and audience.
- Selection and organisation of content
- Selecting and organising information and ideas effectively and persuasively for prepared spoken presentations.
- Persuasive techniques and rhetorical devices
- Using persuasive techniques appropriately, for example rhetorical questions, direct address, repetition or emotive language, to influence the audience.
- Planning, rehearsal and delivery
- Planning effectively by researching content, anticipating audience reactions and preparing responses to possible questions, and delivering with audible, clear speech and controlled pace.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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