Step 4

FRAME OPENING SPEECH

This speech, delivered in a few short minutes, should inform the Researchers and the Judges that the tax-paying public has its own share of concerns regarding the assigned topic. 
If you are not the only player for the General Public, be sure to work on this step together.

Before starting on your own speech, read the Sample Research Proposal to get a sense of what the research teams are presenting for the GAME PLAY. After reading it, copy and paste excerpts from the speech that exemplify scientific ways of thinking:

    • An excerpt exemplifying how scientists gather data
    • An excerpt where a research question is raised
    • An excerpt expressing a challenge to conventional wisdom on the topic

Read the Sample Opening Speech and then copy and paste excerpts from the speech that exemplify non-scientific ways of thinking:

    • An excerpt exemplifying a conversational style of communication
    • An excerpt exemplifying a non-scientific way of coming to a conclusion
    • An excerpt expressing the goal of “research” from the general public’s perspective

Opening Speech Template

THE FOUR PILLARS QUESTIONS YOUR ANSWERS
(RESPOND AS IF YOU WERE DELIVERING THE ANSWERS FOR A SPEECH)
A. INTRODUCTION
(Start by borrowing material from your STEP 1 - CHARACTER SKETCH.)
  1. Who are you? Why are you here? Who asked you to speak?
  2. What basic interests do you, as a representative of the general public, have in research on the assigned topic?
 
B. MAJOR CONCERNS
  1. What major concerns does the general public have with regard to the topic? How do you know this? Where did you obtain this information?
  2. What are some specific examples of these concerns?
 
C. RECOMMENDATIONS
  1. How does the general public want social science researchers to address these problems?
  2. Why do problems persist in spite of years of research?
  3. How should the research funds be spent? What should be the priorities?
 
D. CLOSING REMARKS
  1. Why should Researchers listen to the General Public?
  2. What do you hope to see in the upcoming research proposals?