The House Divided was an address given by Abraham Lincoln on June 16, 1858, at what was then the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, upon accepting the Illinois Republican Party's nomination as that state's United States senator.

Lincoln First Inaugural Address 1861

On August 22, 1864 Abraham Lincoln addressed the 166th Ohio Regiment in Washington, D.C. 

Learn tips from professional actors on how to coach your students to a better performance. Also included are two videos that analyze a student performance.

Students learn how intentions effect the tone of a speech, explore how and when to alter their pace, and discover how emphasizing different words can change the meaning of a text.

Students learn the nine elements of effective public speaking and recognize how to use them.

Students write eight original speeches. Rubrics and examples included. Each speech performance focuses on using two Podium Points (elements of effective public speaking).

Students take different sides of an issue and present evidence to support that side. A student judge then decides who presented the best argument.

Students create original art pieces inspired by a connection they make between a historic speech and current events.

Recommended Resources: Example Annotated Speeches and Historic Speech Database

By understanding the three elements of persuasive speech—ethos, pathos and logos—students will analyze the effect of rhetorical strategies and elements in commercials and speeches.

Recommended Resources: Example Annotated Speeches and Historic Speech Database