Speechmaking
and
Speechwriting Activities:
The Challenger Speech File
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93065
www.reaganlibrary.com
The Great Communicator Files
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Challenger: Speech File
OVERVIEW
Look through the materials in your speech file. List three of the different documents
that you see:
Date on Document
Title of Document (if available)
1)
2)
3)
(Document #1)
1. Look at the President’s Back-up Copy.
a. What do you think the backup copy was used for?
b. What do you think the marks on the backup copy represent?
c. What does the word “Noonan” in parenthesis at the upper left-hand corner of the
document represent?
d. Where was the speech presented? How do you know this?
(Document #2)
2. Look at the document “Presidential Remarks: Death of Space Shuttle Challenger
Crew Tuesday, January 28, 1986.”
a. What do the initials “RR” stand for?
b. What important address was the president expecting to give that night?
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Challenger: Speech File
c. How do you know? Provide a quote to back-up your response.
d. How many astronauts died on board the shuttle Challenger?
e. What was unique about this particular mission?
f. Had Americans lost astronauts in space prior to this accident?
g. List two adjectives to describe the mood of the president and of the
nation on this day.
Photo courtesy of NASA
h. Pretend you are a teacher watching this space shuttle take-off from
your classroom with your class. What would you say to your
students after the space shuttle explodes?
i. Imagine you are the president and have just been informed of this incident.
What do you think your role is in this tragedy?
(Document #3)
3. Examine the page titled “White House Staffing Memorandum.”
a. Why is it marked “ASAP”?
b. What do you think this memorandum is used for? Why?
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Challenger: Speech File
c. What role did Admiral John Poindexter play in the Reagan Administration?
d. What is the NSC?
e. Why would the NSC be reviewing the president’s remarks?
f. What role did Ben Elliott play in the Reagan Administration?
g. Examine the changes made by the NSC.
List two changes which the president incorporated in his remarks.
List two changes which the president did not incorporate in his remarks.
(Document #4)
4. Look at the “Remarks of the President on Space Shuttle Explosion.”
a. What is the date on this document?
b. What is the time on this document?
c. What does the letter “Q” stand for within the document?
d. From where was this address made?
e. List three emotions expressed by the president in this document.
f. Provide evidence for your response to question (e) using 2 or more quotes from
the text.
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Challenger: Speech File
g. Do you think the president would continue to support the space program after
this accident?
h. Explain your response to question (g) using a quote from the document to
support your response.
(Document #5)
5. Look at the document titled, “High Flight.”
a. What kind of document is this?
b. Why is it included in this speech file?
(Document Set #6a and 6b)
6. What was the “Teacher in Space Project?”
a. How does it relate to the Space Shuttle Challenger?
b. What was the name of the “teacher in space”?
c. What was the teacher expecting to do in space?
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Challenger: Speech File
(Document Set #7)
7. Examine the letters written to President Reagan.
a. Why have they been saved in the speech file?
b. Summarize one of the letters in two-three sentences.
c. If you have not already done so, read President Reagan’s “Address to the
Nation: Death of Space Shuttle Challenger Crew.”
(Check box when complete.)
d. In two paragraphs or more, write your own response to the president.
(Use the back of the sheet to continue writing your response.)
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Challenger: Speech Writing
SPEECH ELEMENTS
1. Elements of a successful speech include:
• Attention-getting devices such as stories or interesting facts or
jokes.
• Clear communication – understandable language and specific points, ideas and
plans.
• Accurate information.
• Specific examples to back-up your ideas.
• An exciting ending such as a call to action or the repetition of a unifying theme.
2. Multiple Drafts and Lots of Practice
Successful speeches, including presidential speeches, generally have gone through
numerous drafts and have often been seen and reviewed by more than one person.
Presidents generally practice their speeches and receive suggestions on how to best
present information to the public.
3. Know Thyself
Develop your own style. Present your speech in a manner which is consistent with
and reflects your own personality.
QUESTION ON THE CHALLENGER SPEECH ELEMENTS:
(Answer the following question on a separate sheet of paper)
List, describe and provide three examples of the elements of successful speech writing
evidenced in President Reagan’s “Address to the Nation: Death of Space Shuttle
Challenger Crew.”
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Challenger: Speech Writing
CREATE YOUR OWN SPEECH:
1. Brainstorm a list of issues which are important to you. They can be school-based,
local, state, national or international issues.
Some examples may include:
creating grade restrictions for playing on an athletic team,
school-improvement efforts,
lowering the age required to obtain a drivers’ license,
election reform,
or
foreign policy.
2. Write a 250 word speech. Make sure you incorporate the “elements of a successful
speech” described above.
3. Ask at least two other people you trust to read over your speech and make
comments and suggestions.
4. Incorporate at least two of the suggestions and change your speech to reflect these
suggestions.
5. Practice your speech in front of at least two other people.
6. Email your speech to
[email protected].
Excerpts from the very best speeches will be posted on the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library and Museum website.
Additionally, three times a year, one speech will be selected as the Great
Communicator Student Winner. The student winner’s speech will be posted in the
rotunda of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Each student winner will receive:
☺ four free passes to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum
☺ a certificate
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☺ additional prizes from the museum gift store