GE ELEC Public Speaking and Persuasion

Rizza Mae Borabo

BSES-1B

1. When listening to an informative speech by one of your classmates, you realize that much
of it is plagiarized from a magazine article you read a couple of weeks earlier. What do you
do? Do you say something when your instructor asks for comments about the speech? Do
you mention your concern to the instructor after class? Do you talk with the speaker? Do
you remain silent?

If I ever spotted a student plagiarizing something, the first thing I'd do is remain silent until
I could speak with my instructor. Because it is the proper thing to do, because it would be unjust
to those students and myself to simply let it slip because we worked hard to prepare a speech and
a fellow classmate will simply commit academic dishonesty to earn a decent score.
I would talk to my teacher, being as inconspicuous as possible since I don't want to ruin
my fellow student's reputation, and then I would present evidence to my instructor that my
classmate plagiarized. I will likely request to be anonymous to stay out of trouble, and to not be
involved.

2. While researching your persuasive speech, you find a quotation from an article by a highly
respected expert that will nail down one of your most important points. But as you read the
rest of the article, you realize the author does not in fact support the policy you are
advocating. Should you still include the quotation in your speech?

Yes, I would still include the quotation that the expert said even if my agreement does not align
with his/her policy.