vce english oral presentation ideas

VCE English: Advice for your Oral Presentations

Wednesday 19th, July 2023

As part of your assessment for VCE English, you are required to ‘ develop and present a point of view text.’ In other words, you need to complete an oral presentation. This is quite unlike the other assessments you get, as you are required to plan, write, and present a speech.

Most students find this assignment daunting, but it can also be very enjoyable as you get to explore a current issue (more on this later). This article will give you a run down on what to expect from this assessment, and tips and tricks to help you ace it!

How to Choose a Topic

The most important part of this assessment is choosing a suitable topic. VCAA stipulates that the issue must have appeared in the media before September 1 st of the previous year. In some cases, your teachers may give you a short list of topics to choose from, or if you’re lucky, you will be given completely free reign.

Either way, you need to choose a topic that you have a lot to write about. After all, you do need to talk for around five minutes!

Start by making a list of some significant events that appeared in the media in the last year. You can use news articles to help with this! Using these events, see if you can brainstorm the issues that occurred. Of course, there are multiple issues that can stem from a single event. You can use these to come up with some topics, for example:

To help decide your final topic, brainstorm some arguments for each one. You should choose the topic that has the strongest arguments, and the one you will have the most fun writing.

Advice for Writing your Speech

It’s a given that the most important part of this assessment is writing the actual speech. Before you begin writing, make sure that you have done a lot of research into the topic, have plenty of evidence, quotes, and a rough plan. Here are some other tips:

Have a structure

Your listener needs to be able to follow along with your speech – therefore, you need to have a clear structure. They should know when you are starting a new argument or reading out your conclusion.

The best way to introduce your arguments is by signposting. You should have about 2-4 of them. This is when you very clearly state what your argument is before you begin discussing it (think topic sentences).

Your speech should also have a clear introduction and conclusion. Your introduction should also contain your contention, so your listener knows what your perspective is. Make your contention specific and unique!

Start with a bang

The very first sentence that you read out sets the mood for the rest of your speech. Therefore, you should start with an engaging hook to keep your listener’s interest. Some good ways to start are a speech are using analogies, anecdotes, or a shocking fact or statistic.

Do you need a persona? 

Taking on a persona is a unique way to present an oral presentation. This is where you put yourself into someone else’s shoes and write in their perspective. Usually this will be someone that is more heavily involved in the issue than you are.

Perhaps you are writing about the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence software such as ChatGPT. You could write as a University Professor who is concerned about plagiarism or as a student finding it useful for studying.

You don’t have to use a persona – you can do just as well without one. It also fits certain topics better than others. If you choose to use one, make sure you do lots of research to understand the character, and make it clear to your audience who you are.

Think about your overall register/context

Depending on your topic and persona, there may be a certain register than suits your speech. Register refers to the level of formality and really depends on the context.

If you are presenting a speech in front of work colleagues, you may require a formal register. However, if you are presenting a speech in front of primary school children, an informal register will be best to keep their attention. Of course, you will be presenting your speech in front of your classmates/teachers. However, depending on the persona you adopt, you can change your register to suit.

Inclusive language is important

When writing a speech, you need to connect with your audience and really try and show them that the issue impacts them in some way or another. Therefore, try and use inclusive language where possible!

Tips for Presenting Your Speech

The job isn’t over once you have written your speech – you then must present it! Here are some tips to help you with this part.

Time yourself

It is likely that your teachers will set a time limit for your presentation. Usually it is around 5-6 minutes, which is equivalent to around 750 words. Before the day of your presentation, it is important that you practise the speech in timed conditions.

This will tell you if you need to cut and change parts of the speech and prevent you from getting penalised.        

Vary your tone

Your voice is a very powerful tool – by changing the tone of your voice, you can add emphasis and draw attention to specific parts of your speech. No one wants to hear you speak in the same voice for five minutes straight – this shows a lack of enthusiasm and passion towards the issue. Change your tone to match what you are saying – does a certain part of your speech make you angry, frustrated or even sad? Show this through your voice! You can also change the pace that you are talking at and change up your volume.

Make cue cards but don’t rely on them

A cue card is a small piece of paper that has words written on them, that tells you what you need to say. This is much preferred to reading off a sheet of paper! Although they are very useful, you shouldn’t rely on them – your marker doesn’t want to see you staring at them for the entire duration of your speech. Therefore, make sure you practise your speech enough times so your cue cards become your safety net in case you forget something – not what you rely on completely.

Don’t forget to make eye contact

Giving eye contact is a sign of confidence and connects you to your viewer. Make sure you regularly look up from your cue cards and don’t take your eyes away from your audience for too long.

Body language is important

Just like varying your tone, physical actions can help enhance your presentation too. Don’t stay rooted to a single spot during your presentation, feel free to walk around a bit and use hand gestures. Don’t overdo it though!

Hopefully you found this article helpful and are now feeling more confident about completing your oral presentation. Just make sure you choose a topic that you are passionate about and practise your presentation as much as possible – you can certainly ace this assessment!

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The Ultimate Guide to the VCE English Study Design

English Study Designs are notoriously difficult to understand, let alone read. Following the introduction of the new VCE English Study Design in 2023 , we are going to unpack it in a simple, organised fashion, to help inform you of everything you need to know for VCE English.

We will go through each unit, outlining all the material knowledge, skills and topics that are vital to your VCE English journey. 

VCE English Study Design Structure Key changes from the previous VCE English Study Design Unit 1: Reading and exploring texts + Crafting texts Unit 2: Reading and exploring texts + Exploring argument Unit 3: Reading and respond to texts + Creating texts SACs for Unit 3 Unit 4: Reading and responding to texts + Analysing argument SACs for Unit 4

VCE English Study Design Structure

The 4 Units in VCE English are split up as follows:

Unit 1: Reading and Exploring Texts + Crafting Texts

Unit 2: reading and exploring texts + exploring argument, unit 3: reading and responding to texts + creating texts, unit 4: reading and responding to texts + analysing argument.

It is important to notice the correlation between Units 1 and 3, as well as Units 2 and 4. Although they have different titles, they are fundamentally the same.

Key Changes from the Previous VCE English Study Design

• The ‘Comparative Essay’ component has been completely removed from the Study Design.
• Creative Writing (‘Framework of ideas’) is now a component (‘Section B’) of the external examination for 3/4 English. 
• You will write Argument and Language Analyses on written persuasive texts and persuasive pieces in another form (such as audio or visual) in 3/4 English.

This unit is generally your first introduction to Creative Writing, you will create or add to stories through a provided text or theme. Additionally, you will start writing VCE standard essays, which tends to be a surprise jump in quality expectations for many. 

Area of Study 1: Reading and Exploring Texts (Essay Writing)  

At the beginning of your VCE journey, you’ve likely been writing essays for a couple of years. Every student has at least gone through the process of analysing a text and then answering questions about it.

However, don’t underestimate this section, the study design often introduces students to new expectations and requirements for essay writing that can be difficult to achieve without extensive practice. 

You will have to write an essay for assessment  in this Area of Study. The VCE English Study Design Outcome outlines that you are assessed on:

– Extracted from the VCAA websites on the ‘Planning’ page

From this, we can gather that you are assessed on your ability to execute three skills:

• Context. This relates to how well your essay addresses the question you are responding to. This tends to be where English VCE students lose most of their marks. It is critical to ensure your whole response is catered towards the question. 
• Knowledge. You need to show a deep understanding of the text’s characters, themes and author’s intent. This can be shown through your use of quotes, explanations and ultimate conclusions. 
• Writing and Grammar . This is a skill that must be developed over the course of your schooling journey. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but reading and writing is the only way to improve in this area. 

Need to write an expert-level feature article for VCE English ? Here’s a few tips to help you ace the criteria sheet…

Area of Study 2: Crafting Texts (Creative Writing)

You will engage with a set of ‘mentor texts’, these are texts that align with a ‘ Framework of Ideas ‘ (overarching theme and ideas) created by your school.  The mentor texts can be a range of different forms, such as short stories, speeches, and poetry. You will use these mentor texts to make a creative text of your own.

According to the outcome, you will be assessed on your ability to:

In summary, the creative writing task is based on your ability to:

• Create a text for a specific purpose.  You must design your piece for a context and audience, and attempt to express, explain, reflect or argue.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the mentor texts. Your writing will need to be clearly influenced and guided by the mentor texts you investigated.
• Justify the decisions you made when writing the text. After writing your piece, you may be asked to create a description that explains why you took the text in the direction you did. 

Unit 1 Assessment Summary

Wondering what you could be assessed on in this unit? Here are the types of assessments you can end up with for each Outcome:

– Extracted from VCAA’s website under the ‘Assessment’ Page

Apart from more essay writing, this unit focuses on ‘Exploring Argument’. This involves analysing an opinionated piece and outlining why it does a good job at persuading the audience to agree with their proposal, also known as a language analysis. Additionally, you will perform an Oral Presentation on a chosen topic recently discussed in the media.

Area of Study 1: Reading and Exploring Texts (Essay writing)

This area of study is the exact same as Area of Study 1 in the previous unit. Don’t believe me? Well here is the outcome for this unit:

Sound familiar? In this Area of Study you will also be assessed on your essay writing . 

Yes, there are slight differences in the key knowledge and skills sections between the two Area of Studies. However, these are simply to ensure teachers introduce you to different styles of texts for essay writing. 

Additionally, these areas of study deliberately cover similar content!  Thanks to the design of the curriculum, there’s nothing new to learn here, you’ll just need to continue to improve on your essay writing skills. 

Area of Study 2: Exploring Argument (Analysis of Argument and Language)

Oral Presentation

The Oral Presentation aims to help you understand the thought process that goes behind making an opinionated piece. In the Oral, you will craft a speech that aims to convince the audience of a specific perspective on an issue. 

You may have to perform an Oral Presentation on a topic that has recently been in the media for assessment . The Oral will assess:

• Public speaking skills. Good body language, clear articulation, and different tones of voice will be required. 
• Argument building. How do you position the audience to eventually agree with your point of view?
• Knowledge of the chosen issue. Are you well versed in both sides of the argument? Do you have evidence to support your argument and refute possible weaknesses in your perspective?

Want help with your Oral Presentation? Have a look at The Comprehensive Guide to Acing your VCE English Oral Presentation.

Exploring Argument (Argument Analysis)

Language analyses are not the same as essays. Do not mix up the two, you must view them separately in order to do them both well. This task requires you to concisely unpack a persuasive piece which can be in written, audio or visual form. 

The assessment will likely require you to write an Argument and Language Analysis on a persuasive piece . This is shown by the Outcome, which states:

Generally, you will be marked on the following:

• Identification and exploration of techniques used to build the argument. How have language techniques, argument techniques, writing techniques and imagery assisted the writer or speaker’s argument?
• Understanding of the audience. How would the readers be influenced by the writer or speaker’s different techniques used in argument?
• Ability to display how the argument is developed. What is the writer or speaker trying to achieve throughout different points of their piece?
• Writing and Grammar. In a ‘language analysis’, you are expected to write extremely clearly and to the point, avoiding all the ‘fluff’ you would have in an essay.

Check out our full guide on How to Write an Argument Analysis for VCE English !

Unit 2 Assessment Summary

Curious about the assessments for this unit? Here are the types of assessments you can end up with for each Outcome:

Area of Study 1: Essay Writing 

Yep. You guessed it, this Area of Study is the exact same as the other two essay writing Areas of Study. This is shown by once again familiar outcome:

Area of Study 2: Creating Texts

In this Area of Study you will be building upon your skills learnt in Unit 1. Your school will select three mentor texts for you to read from a list provided by VCAA. These mentor texts now align with a ‘ Framework of Ideas ‘, you will explore one framework in extreme depth and write about it in a SAC and eventually the exam.

The Frameworks are as follows:

Writing about country Writing about play Writing about protest Writing about personal journey.

You will be assessed on the same skills as in Unit 1. Meaning you have design your piece to a specific context, audience and purpose, as well as explain your decisions made in the writing process.

This is one of your last chances to refine your skills before the English Exam. The text you write will be required to align with one of the four broad ideas which you can engage with in the exam. So, this can provide a strong foundation for your exam preparation!

Unit 3 SACs 

Below is a table extracted from the VCAA VCE English Study Design. It outlines the SACs you will undertake during Unit 3 English. Outcome 1 is your essay writing SAC, Outcome 2 is your creative writing SAC.

This is your final essay writing Area of Study for VCE English. It is important to realise that the standard of writing goes up with each Area of Study. 

These more complex expectations are a main reason why you are expected to practice essay writing in each Area of Study. These expectations take a lot of practice to consistently achieve!

You should also note that the text you use in this Area of Study will very likely be the one you use in Section A (essay writing component) of the English Exam, as it will be the freshest text in your memory during the exam period. 

Area of Study 2: Analysing Argument

Finally, the last area of study, and just like the rest of Units 3 and 4, you’ve already done this before!  This section requires you to do language analyses and an Oral Presentation. 

The Oral Presentation must analyse a form of media that has appeared since the 1st of September the previous year. 

For the Argument Analysis, you will make one on a written text and another in a different form, such as audio or visual. You will be required to use the same skills as in Unit 2, Area of Study 2. Once again keep in mind that you will h ave to do a language analysis in Section C of the English Exam .

Unit 4 SACs

Below is a table extracted from the VCAA VCE English Study Design. It outlines the SACs you will undertake during Unit 4 English. Outcome 1 is another Essay writing SAC. Outcome 2 involves the Argument and Language Analyses SACs.

That’s all! 

Th e VCE English Study Design may seem too detailed, a tad unnecessary or confusing. However, you will slowly realise throughout your VCE journey that it makes a lot more sense than what you originally thought. VCAA deliberately created this study design so that Units 1 and 2 of English prepare and essentially rehearse students for Units 3 and 4.

Therefore, make sure to take your Year 11 studies seriously! I promise that you will be grateful by the end of your English journey, if you take advantage of this well crafted Study Design structure. 

Making the step up to Year 12? Here’s how to ACE it…

Are you looking for some extra help with working through the VCE English Study Design? 

We have an incredible team of VCE tutors and mentors!

We offer specialised English tutoring in Melbourne with expert tutors ! Get in contact today to secure your expert coach.

We can help you ace your VCE English SACs and ace your upcoming VCE assessments with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home or online!

Looking for a local tutor in  Footscray ? Or needing  support for the  VCE  in  Doncaster ? We offer one-on-one tutoring, in your home or online!

We’ve supported over  8,000 students over the last 11 years , and on average our students score mark improvements of over 20%!

To find out more and get started with an inspirational VCE tutor and mentor,   get in touch today  or give us a ring on  1300 267 888!

Max Huyton is the VIC Growth Marketer for Art of Smart and a Laws and Commerce student at Monash University. In his other life, Max spends his time reading and writing whenever he gets the chance and cooking extremely mediocre dishes for friends and family.

• Topics: ✏️ English , ✍️ Learn

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Year 12 English: tips for oral presentations

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We all know oral presentations are a big deal in year 12. Your mark makes up a significant proportion of your final study score in VCE English. Your Point of View speech is worth 40% of the grade awarded for Unit 4 alone.

Juliet Austin, lecturer at Deakin University’s Faculty of Arts and Education, and Jason Jewell, Year 12 English teacher at McKinnon Secondary College, share their top tips for nailing your oral presentation.

Research and plan

To set yourself up for success, start by conducting thorough research into what makes a great speech. This will help you ensure the script of your speech has plenty of interesting, powerful and persuasive language devices, Jewell says. ‘You should listen to speeches such as  TED Talks  and observe politicians in the media – all of which model effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills aimed at persuading a target audience.’

Austin suggests a great way to cut down on stress is to ensure you’re well prepared ahead of time and have a really clear understanding of the task.

‘You know your dates in advance, so check with your teacher and make sure that you’re really clear about what you have to do and what materials you can use,’ she advises.

When it comes to drafting your speech, it’s important to make sure your presentation has a structure, Austin says. ‘You really have to have your audience in the back of your mind. What’s interesting to them? What grabs their attention?’

Cue cards can be a great tool, but Austin says they can also be a major distraction. ‘Take some time to figure out if you really need every word written out or just dot points. You know how you work best,’ she says.

'‘You really have to have your audience in the back of your mind. What’s interesting to them? What grabs their attention?’' Juliet Austin, Deakin University

Practice makes perfect

Jewell suggests recording yourself delivering the full version of your presentation in order to identify any ways you could improve.

‘You need to practice your speech a great deal before the actual task in class, so that you do not rely on notes or cards too much and can speak directly to all members of the audience using your eyes, facial expressions and gestures, to show them how passionate you are about the contention you have chosen,’ he says.

Remember that it’s common to speed up when you’re nervous.

‘Ensure your stance is confident, including enough pauses between points, stressing words for effect, using visual materials and not speaking too quickly,’ he says.

Austin says you might also need to take into consideration the classroom you will be delivering your presentation in. ‘Have a think… do I need to project myself louder if I’m in a wider room?’

Back yourself up

We’ve all done it. The night before your presentation, you’ve dissected your work with your classmates, leaving you feeling insecure and unsure of your hard work.

‘Don’t stay up all night the night before. You need to be fresh. The worst thing you can do if you’re feeling anxious is stay up all night comparing presentations,’ Austin warns.

‘Try not to also hang around too much before your presentation with other nervous people. There’s no need. Afterwards, don’t feel like you have to engage in a deep post mortem discussion about how everyone went. Once it’s done, it’s done. No need to hash over it.’

And her number one tip? ‘Don’t forget to smile!’

Want more tips?

Here’s what high-achieving Year 12s have to say.

Lecturer, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University

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VCE English Units 3 & 4 Oral Presentation: Issues

• Accessing Media articles
• Oral Presentation Tips
• Referencing
• Graphic organisers

Select your issue from the list of possible topics

1.   Should secondary school students be allowed to use Artificial Intelligence in their assessment tasks?

2.   Should prisoners be allowed access to the internet?

3.   Should pill testing be available to drug users at music festivals?

4.   Should duck and quail hunting be banned in Victoria?

5.   Should Australia introduce a four day work week?

6.   Should radical climate change protests be allowed?

7.   Should Australia become a cashless society?

8.   Should mental health services be free?

9.   Should children under 14 be banned from using social media?

10. Should the government be doing more to tackle domestic violence?

11. Should there be safe injecting rooms in Melbourne and regional cities?

12. Should SUVs and large utes be banned in city centres?

13. Should the Australian government be doing more to combat homelessness?

14. Should the Australian government provide more resources to improve Indigenous health? 

Marian College Resource Centre

• Next: Accessing Media articles >>
• Last Updated: May 20, 2024 11:07 AM
• URL: https://mariansw.catholic.libguides.com/vceoralpresentation

VCE Oral Presentations: Oral Presentation

• Oral Presentation

Tips and Tricks

• Oral Presentations: Tips on How to Deliver a Speech for School or Work
• Top 10 Public Speaking Exercises
• 12 Ways to Hook an Audience in 30 Seconds
• Ten Simple Rules for Making Good Oral Presentations
• A Quiet Person's Guide To Effective Public Speaking

What is an Oral Presentation?

Oral presentations, also known as public speaking, consist of  an individual or group verbally addressing an audience on a particular topic .

There are four reasons you would give a presentation:

• to educate,
• to entertain
• to present an argument.

How Can the Library Help You?

Visit the library team for help with the following:

• Researching your topic
• Proofreading your written piece
• Practising your presentation
• Presentation design
• Moral support

Five Basic Public Speaking Tips 5:01

How to Speak so that People Want to Listen 9:58

TED's Secret to Great Public Speaking 7:56

Five Simple Rules for Creating World Changing Presentations 4:28

• Next: Resources >>
• Last Updated: Sep 6, 2023 3:17 PM
• URL: https://geelong.libguides.com/vce_english_orals

VCE English Issues: Oral Presentation

• 2022 issues
• Persuasive Writing
• Oral Presentation
• Evaluate Sources
• Bibliography

What is an Oral Presentation?

Making a good oral presentation is an art that involves attention to the needs of your audience, careful planning, and attention to delivery. You can make an oral presentation for a number of reasons:

• to inform 
• to persuade
• to entertain

Terminology

Colloquialism

A colloquialism is a word, phrase, or other form used in informal language. Colloquialisms include words, phrases such as "raining cats and dogs" and "dead as a doornail"; and aphorisms such as "There's more than one way to skin a cat".

Voice Register

Fallseto - talking through nose and throat. Talking in a lower voice makes your presentation carry more weight.

The way that your voice feels. Rich smooth and warm.

Having a question sound like a statement or a statement sound like a question. Prosody is the patterns of stress, intonation and rhythm of oral language.

How fast or slow are you talking? Using silence to place emphases a point that you have just made. The audience will stop and think as well.

Same sentence can mean different things if you use a different pitch. 

Build your oral presentation skills

Tips and Hints

• LaTrobe University Guide
• Tips on How to Deliver a Speech for School or Work
• Top 10 Public Speaking Exercises Tips and hints to improve your public speaking skills
• 12 Ways to hook an audience in 30 seconds
• Ten Simple Rules for Making Good Oral Presentations
• A Quiet Person's Guide To Effective Public Speaking

Watch " How to give a great TEDx talk" for some great tips on how to structure your talk.

Although the video is specifically geared towards delivering a TED talk, there is plenty for VCE students to take away.

• Make sure you use a strong opening hook .
• Order your points so they follow naturally in the sequence of your talk.
• Craft a great closing story with a call to action.
• Add images to help tighten transitions and augment your stories.
• Rehearse and practice in front of real audiences for several weeks

Click here for: Strategies for an effective oral presentation

Please visit your Teacher Librarians for help preparing your 'oral'. Don't leave a practice session to the last minute.  Come early and we can endorse or improve.   Teacher Librarians can help with: 

• Researching your topic
• proof reading your written piece
• practising your presentation
• presentation design
• moral support
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• Next: Fake News >>
• Last Updated: Jun 15, 2023 4:18 PM
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Oral presentation ideas

I've got the oral due in like a week and need to start, I'm just stuck between 2 topics and what would be better to do.

On one hand I want to do sports washing, but I can't come up with a good contention and MB paragraphs. But it is unique and that hopefully means something, and relatively relevant.

Or, I could do pill testing and why we need to implement it more commonly, which is easier but not as unique.

What would be better to do? I'm aiming for 100% and while I feel like pill testing is a stronger idea and more relevant, lots of online oral guides use it as their example and therefore I'm worried about being marked down for not being unique, or accidentally stealing something from another person and getting done for plagiarism.