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Hello everyone.
Ms. Keller here.
I'm so glad that you could join me for today's lesson.
In this session, we are going to be exploring how to use two different rhetorical devices, alliteration and onomatopoeia, in our speech writing in order to make it really engaging and impactful.
So let's get started.
So by the end of today's lesson, we'll be able to use alliteration and onomatopoeia ourselves in a speech to highlight and emphasise key ideas.
So let's explore today's keywords.
We have onomatopoeia, alliteration, initial response and emphasise.
Now I want to draw your attention to that final word there, emphasise, because we're gonna be using it quite frequently in today's lesson because onomatopoeia and alliteration are both techniques that we can use in order to emphasise something.
So what I mean by that is give it special importance, highlighting its significance, really focusing the audience's attention on that thing.
So it's foregrounding it.
So do take a moment to just really familiarise yourself with the rest of those keywords before you move on, because we're gonna be using them all the way through the lesson.
And when you're ready to continue, click play.
So how is today's lesson going to look? Well, first of all, we are going to think about what onomatopoeia and alliteration are.
So what are they? How do we use them? What are the top tips for using them effectively? And then in the second half of today's lesson, we are going to start by analysing how these devices are used in texts to help them have impact.
And then when we think we've worked out the effect of onomatopoeia and alliteration, we're going to have a go at using them ourselves.
So we can make our speeches more engaging and impactful by using what is known as aural devices.
Now this is not to be confused with the other word oral, which is spelled O-R-A-L.
Now that oral means to do with speech, O-R-A-L links to speech.
So what does this one link to? Aural devices.
So devices that are aural devices are onomatopoeia, which are words that mimic the sound that they describe.
For example, he slammed the door, in that word 'slammed' we almost can really picture that door slamming.
We're getting that sound in our heads as well.
And alliteration, which is when we use the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
So another example, silent stars were scattered across the sky.
We've got those five different S sounds there.
We've got the four words at the beginning, and we've also got that stars at the end, which is helping to really build up that sound.
So thinking about the fact that you now know these two devices, or aural devices, what do you think aural devices might be? So a bit of a hint there.
What are these two things have in common? What do onomatopoeia and alliteration have in common? So pause the video here while you have a think, and take some time perhaps to discuss it with the people around you, or if you're working on your own, that's okay, just make a few notes.
And when you're ready for us to feedback together, click play and we'll continue.
Okay, welcome back, and well done if you identified that aural devices are methods linked to sounds.
So aural when it's spelled though with that A-U links to the ear, and then oral, O-R-A-L links to the mouth.
So that is really worth remembering so you don't get them mixed up.
So yeah, we could see that their methods linked to sounds because if we look here, we've got that word sound in both the definitions.
So onomatopoeia are words that mimic sounds.
Alliteration are words that use sounds to draw attention to something.
So use a repeated sound to draw attention to something.
So let's just stop here and check our understanding.
Why do we call onomatopoeia and alliteration aural devices? Pause the video while you take some time to have a think, and when you're ready for me to reveal the correct answer, click play and we'll continue.
Okay, welcome back, and well done to those of you who said, C, they both relate to sounds.
And that word aural comes from the Latin auris meaning ear.
So let's pause for our first practise task then.
So it's time to put our knowledge of onomatopoeia and alliterations to the test.
So what I would like you to do is discuss the following questions.
So number one, why do you think aural devices are particularly effective when used in speeches? Number two, what effect do you think alliteration will have on a speech? And number three, what effect do you think onomatopoeia will have on a speech? So take some time to discuss these questions with the people around you, or if you're working on your own and you are not able to discuss it, that's okay, just take a moment to think about your independent responses to each of these questions, and make some notes and then we can discuss it all together in a moment.
So pause the video here, and click play when you're ready for us to feedback together.
Okay, welcome back.
I heard some really fantastic responses in those discussions there, so well done for giving that such a good go.
It is really useful to begin thinking about what effects we think these techniques are going to have because then in a second, in the next part of the lesson, when we come to analysing examples of these devices in action, we're gonna be able to really draw on these ideas from this discussion in order to think about why they add impact to our speeches.
So here is how some of our Oak pupils responded to each of these questions.
And as we're going through this, think about how these ideas perhaps compared to the ideas that you came up with in your discussions, or perhaps that you came up with in your notes.
So number one, why do you think aural devices are particularly effective when used in speeches? Well, Aisha said, "Speeches aren't read, they're listened to, so aural devices helped make the delivery of the speech more impactful." And that is a really important point.
Speeches are one of the only types of transactional writing that we hear aloud, rather than reading those written words.
So actually aural devices are really impactful here, because we will actually hear them.
We won't just be perhaps saying them in our heads and maybe picking up on the impact in our heads.
We're hearing it out loud.
So number two then, what effect do you think alliteration will have on a speech? So Jacob said, "Alliteration could draw attention to particular phrases, and make them more memorable." So by grouping together those similar sounds, we are almost starting to get into the world of things that sound like slogans, snappy, memorable phrases that are going to stick in our reader's minds.
And this is fantastic for emphasising those key messages.
So number three, what effect do you think onomatopoeia will have on a speech? "Onomatopoeia could be effective in grabbing the reader's attention by making these words stand out." So yeah, we've got that idea that onomatopoeia and the sound effect perhaps that comes with it, will instantly (fingers snapping) grab the reader's attention.
It's that noise that perhaps if their, maybe their attention is starting to drift, it will drag them straight back to what you're saying.
So they're really good to use throughout a speech in order to ensure that we've always got the maximum audience engagement that we can have.
So we have made it to the halfway point.
So we've thought really carefully about what onomatopoeia and alliteration are.
So now it's time for us to see these devices in action, and analyse why and how they're effective.
And we gonna have a go at using them ourselves.
Okay, so let's have a look at an extract from a speech persuading young people to visit Paris.
"Visiting Paris is like stepping into a magical world.
Imagine the crunch of crispy croissants, and the perfect pastries in patisserie windows.
As you explore, you'll see buzzing boutique fashion stores, and charming streets, bubbling with cheerful chatter.
Every moment in Paris is full of fantastic fun." So what I'd like you to do is take a moment to go over this speech yourself, perhaps working with the people around you, or making some notes if you're working on your own.
So starting off by thinking about where the speech uses alliteration or onomatopoeia.
So identifying those examples.
And then two, how do these devices help the speech to fulfil its purpose? So really thinking carefully about the effect of each use of onomatopoeia and alliteration here.
So pause the video while you take some time to think and discuss it, make your notes, and when you're ready for us to feedback together, click play and we'll continue.
Okay, welcome back.
I can definitely overhear some of you identifying some fantastic examples there.
So let's go through it together.
So starting off then with alliteration.
So we actually had quite a lot of alliteration in this speech.
"Crunch of crispy croissants," with the C-R sound there.
"Perfect pastries in patisserie windows," so those three P sounds.
"Buzzing boutique, cheerful chatter, and full of fantastic fun." So we've got lots of different examples there.
Onomatopoeia then.
So we've got "crunch and buzzing." So what's interesting actually is both of these examples of onomatopoeia are also part of those examples of alliteration.
So actually they're really great techniques to combine together if you can.
So this second question then, how do they help the speech to fulfil its purpose? So let's zoom in on a key quote of the speech to explore the effects of these methods.
"So imagine the crunch of crispy croissants and the perfect pastries in patisserie windows." So what could be said then about these techniques? So for the onomatopoeia, "crunch of crispy croissants," I would argue that it makes it easier to imagine.
As soon as I hear that word crunch, it really brings the scene alive for me, and really makes me almost hear that crunch of biting into a croissant.
So perhaps not only does it bring the scene alive, but for me personally, it's actually causing me to reflect on a time that I ate a croissant.
So it might help the audience to actually relate to the content of the speech, because they might be able to think about times when they've done that, that noise might transport them back perhaps to one of their own memories.
And then the alliteration, "perfect pastries in patisserie windows." So we could argue here that the alliteration really emphasises this phrase.
So it really makes it stand out, perfect pastries, patisserie windows.
And also I would argue it slows down the pace when it's read aloud because we need to emphasise that first P sound at the beginning of each word, the perfect pastries in patisserie windows.
So we are really adding emphasis to that sound, meaning that when it's read aloud, more time is then spent on this image.
So more time is spent on this image of eating these crispy croissants, and the perfect pastries in the patisserie windows.
So hopefully by the end of this sentence, that imperative command there, imagine, is something that the audience are really gonna be able to do.
They're gonna have built up a really clear mental image of the croissants, the pastries, and the patisserie windows.
So alliteration and onomatopoeia dos and don'ts then.
So first of all for onomatopoeia, and as we go through these do's and don'ts, I'm going to display an example of each at the bottom.
So do pause the video as we go along, and actually try out these examples by reading them aloud.
So onomatopoeia, use it with dramatic pauses.
Tick.
Tock.
Talk time is running out to save our endangered species.
Have a go at saying that aloud to yourself and perhaps say it without stopping to emphasise tick tock.
Tick, tock.
Time is running out.
See what the difference is when we add that emphasis.
Also use onomatopoeia to connect emotionally with your audience or to enhance that imagery, like we saw in a previous example.
So imagine no longer being able to walk in the woods, listening to the whisper of the wind in the trees, and feeling autumn leaves crunch underfoot.
So again, as you are listening to that, as you're reading it out yourself, how clearly can you actually form that mental image in your mind? So don'ts then.
So don't use onomatopoeia too much too close together.
And here's an example.
And as I'm reading it, see if you can think to yourself about why this might be less effective.
"The whoosh of rising winds, the crackle of dry forests and the sizzle of the parched earth echo the buzz of alarms as global warming roars its warning." So I would argue when we have lots of different examples like this, the impact that was created on the first one is lost as we go along.
It's one of those things that if you do too much with something, it doesn't seem as shocking.
It doesn't actually have as much emphasis anymore because it's really unclear now which part of this sentence the speaker wants to emphasise.
So really try to target your use of onomatopoeia in order to emphasise those key ideas and messages.
Another don't then.
So don't forget to match the tone of your speech.
And what I mean by that is if you're given a speech about a serious topic, don't use onomatopoeia for almost comedic effect.
Try not to use too much lighthearted perhaps onomatopoeia.
And the same in reverse.
If you're giving a lighthearted speech, don't use too much serious onomatopoeia, because it might confuse your audience if the tone doesn't match the content.
So let's have a look at this example then.
"Relax and rejuvenate with yoga.
Each deep breath smashes through the silence, grounding your thoughts with every jab and snap of awareness." So what's wrong with this? Well, we've got a speak about yoga, which is meant to be something that's relaxing and rejuvenating.
So we associate yoga with perhaps calm and tranquillity, and actually the onomatopoeia that we've chosen here are quite the opposite.
They're loud, they're urgent, they're quick, smash, jab, snap.
So they're almost shattering that calm and tranquil mood that we might want people to be in when they're listening to a speech about yoga.
So it's really important that we match that tone.
So onto alliteration then.
So do use alliteration to emphasise key ideas.
So for example, stay smart and secure by setting strong passwords to safeguard your sensitive information.
Now, what is actually really clever about this use of alliteration is that all the words are relevant to the central message.
The central message of this sentence is, use strong passwords so that your information is safe.
But we've got lots of key words here that we wanted to emphasise in order to drive that message.
So we've got smart, secure, these are words that we want to link to strong passwords, safeguarding, sensitive.
So we're not using the repeated sounds on any old word in the sentence, but rather on the particular words in the sentence that are helping us to drive that message.
So the next thing we should do then, we should be using alliteration to create rhythm.
So the best way to use it is in order to create a snappy, or driving rhythm, because that is what is gonna stick in the audience's mind.
So cyberbullying creates a cycle of cruelty causing constant chaos, and destroying a person's confidence.
So we've got this idea of, creates a cycle of cruelty causing constant chaos.
It's really driving that rhythm forward.
So that's really worth bearing in mind.
And then we've also, in that first clause there, got the two different C sounds working together.
So we've got the soft C, cyberbullying and cycle, and then we've got cr, the C-R, the hard C, creates and cruelty.
So it's really clever how the writer has used alliteration there.
To avoid them.
Don't use too much alliteration too close together.
And I think we can probably say this about most rhetorical devices, don't use too many of them too close together, the same one because it can be overkill, and it can the opposite effect.
Actually there's less emphasis rather than more emphasis.
So here's an example, "Online gambling grows grimly, generating grave gripping grievances, grinding goals and grasping greedily." I dunno about you, but I became so distracted by all those G sounds, and the rhythm that it was creating but I didn't really engage with any of the words in the sentence.
So therefore the meaning was lost.
And also I would argue that in order to actually use this many G sounds, the writer is actually probably had to use words that they might not have used.
Generating, grave, gripping, grievances.
I'm not really sure, that there's a clear meaning there.
It probably would've been more useful to say online gambling is growing, creating serious consequences for people's actions, as opposed to perhaps purposely using this really confusing way to say things in order to get those sounds.
The content should always be more important than those sounds.
And also don't distract from your main point.
So again, a similar idea to what we were just talking about there.
"While many marvel at the mechanics of modern machines, they merely miss the mounting monetary burdens of staying on trend." So what is the message of this sentence? Well actually, when we unpick all of this confusing language, all we are really saying is, while lots of people are amazed at modern technology, they end up missing out, because of the constant financial increases of being able to stay on trend.
So they perhaps feel like they have to spend all their money buying the latest technology.
But actually when we're looking at that sentence there, those M sounds are really distracting from that point.
It really took me a while, and I had to take that sentence word by word in order to actually understand what the key message was.
So it's really important to remember that that key message is always more important than the rhetorical device.
So let's pause here, and check our understanding then.
Can you remember these top tips for using alliteration and onomatopoeia? So fill in the missing words below.
I've given you the first letter to help you out.
And you'll see actually that third point down on the do's, we've got two words there, so do bear that in mind.
So pause the video here while you take some time to go through this and see if you can fill in those missing words, and when you're ready for us to feedback together, click play, and we'll continue.
Okay, welcome back.
So let's fill in these gaps.
So do use onomatopoeia with dramatic pauses.
Use onomatopoeia to connect emotionally with the audience, or enhance imagery.
Use alliteration to emphasise key ideas, and use alliteration to create rhythm.
So onto our don'ts.
So don't use too much onomatopoeia or alliteration too close together.
Don't forget to match the tone of the speech with onomatopoeia.
And finally, don't distract from your main points with your use of alliteration.
How did you do? Did you manage to remember all the missing words? Well done if you did.
If you didn't, make a note of the ones perhaps that you've forgotten.
Keep that in your heads as we go forward and try to emulate using these devices ourselves.
Okay, so now we have analysed these devices in action, it's time to use 'em ourselves.
So what I would like you to do for your final practise task of today's lesson is write a paragraph responding to the following statement, "Technology has changed our very way of life, society will never be the same as it was before." So do think really carefully about what your opinions are with regards to that statement.
You don't have to agree with it, you could strongly disagree with it.
That's up to you as long as your initial response to the statement is really clear.
So make sure that you are including that in a clear way.
So once you've got that initial argument in, the next thing you should include is at least one key reason or example to support your argument.
And then I would also like you to make sure that you include lots of alliteration and onomatopoeia to emphasise those key ideas.
So really thinking about all those effective examples that we were exploring, when we were looking at that speech about Paris.
So pause the video here, and take as much time as you need to give this a really good go.
And when you're ready for us to feedback together, click play, and we'll continue.
Okay, so welcome back.
I hope you had a good enough amount of time to really get to grips with your response to that statement.
I hope that you were able to get lots of onomatopoeia and an iteration into your response.
So here's an example of how you could have responded to that statement.
"Technology has intertwined with our daily lives, and the hum of innovation grows ever louder.
From the click of keyboards to the ping of incoming notifications, digital devices dominate our days.
The steady whirring of machinery, and the buzz of vibrating smartphones signal a shift in societal rhythms. Automation and artificial intelligence quietly encroach, their presence felt in the seamless swish of automated systems and the drone of constant connectivity.
As screens flicker, and algorithms advance, our world's pace accelerates reflecting a terrific transformation that reshapes the fabric of modern existence." So take a moment to review your response, asking yourself the following questions.
Did you include your initial response to the statement? Did you include at least one reason or example to support your argument? And finally, did you include lots of alliteration and onomatopoeia in your response? So we've got lots of fantastic examples here, so don't worry if you didn't manage to get either of them in.
Perhaps you can take this as a golden opportunity to redraft.
We've got lots of examples of onomatopoeia there, and also lots of great examples of alliteration.
So pause the video here while you take some time to review your work, and redraft, adding in anything that you've missed, and when you're ready to continue, click play.
Okay, so we've made it to the end of today's lesson, and I hope that you're feeling a bit more confident when it comes to using onomatopoeia and alliteration for effect.
So let's just summarise what we've covered in today's lesson.
Alliteration and onomatopoeia are both types of aural devices, because they link to the sounds in a speech.
Alliteration involves repeating the same consonant sounds in adjacent or connected words to emphasise key ideas.
Onomatopoeia is using words that closely resemble the sounds they represent, in order to grab the audience's attention.
And finally, these devices are useful in speeches because they allow you to draw attention to key ideas or central messages.
So thanks for joining me today.
I really hope that you've enjoyed today's lesson, and that you found it helpful when it comes to writing your speeches.
I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Have a fantastic day.