freedom of speech
(noun)
The right of citizens to speak, or otherwise communicate, without fear of harm or prosecution.
Examples of freedom of speech in the following topics:
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Freedom of Speech
- The freedom of speech is a protected right under the First Amendment, and while many categories of speech are protected, there are limits.
- Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by many state constitutions as well.
- The freedom of speech is not absolute.
- Freedom of speech is a closely guarded liberty in American society.
- Explain how freedom of speech is protected by the United States Constitution
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The First Amendment
- The amendment prohibits the making of any law pertaining to an establishment of a federal or state religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press , interfering with the right to peaceably assemble, or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances .
- Clear and present danger was a doctrine adopted by the Supreme Court of the United States to determine under what circumstances limits can be placed on First Amendment freedoms of speech, press or assembly.
- The Court has also recognized a series of exceptions to provisions protecting the freedom of speech.
- For example, the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech to the general populace but the English Bill of Rights protected only free speech in Parliament .
- Although the First Amendment does not explicitly set restrictions on freedom of speech, other declarations of rights occasionally do.
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Freedom of Expression and its Limits
- Despite the restrictive nature of early colonial laws, the ideas of freedom of speech and expression emerged steadily over time.
- However, colonial governments still exercised various forms of control over dissident speech.
- The most stringent bans on speech in the colonial period outlawed or censored speech that was considered religiously blasphemous.
- However, more recent scholarship focusing on seditious speech in the 17th-century colonies has indicated that from 1607-1700, freedom of speech expanded dramatically, laying a foundation for the political dissent of the Revolutionary War.
- One such instance in which the concept of freedom of expression dramatically expanded was the Zenger Trial.
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The Inspirational Speech
- What would you do without freedom?
- Some of the most famous inspirational speeches in history include Martin Luther King Jr.'
- The power of these speeches lies in the rousing words and imagery that capitalize on the emotional response of their audiences.
- What would you do without freedom?
- An inspirational speech straight out of Hollywood in the Mel Gibson classic, Braveheart.
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Producing an Emotional Appeal
- Some examples of "pathos" charged words include: strong, powerful, tragic, equality, freedom, and liberty.
- An example of a speech that is particularly effective at producing an emotional response with its listeners is Martin Luther King, Jr.'
- The speech uses rhetoric to convey the point of equal opportunity for all people.
- As his speech draws to a close, he wills his vision to become reality across the country, moving on to the refrain, "Let freedom ring!"
- An example of a speech that is particularly effective at producing an emotional response with its listeners is Martin Luther King, Jr.'
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Introduction
- His attention-getter is in the simplicity of his speech outline.
- The introduction is the first part of your speech that will ultimately set the tone for the rest of your speech.
- Regardless of the context of your speech, it is important to establish the purpose of your speech to your audience so your audience knows why they should listen to you.
- While extemporaneous speeches don't give you this kind of freedom, writing your introduction verbatim, or word for word, is vital for any prepared remarks.
- Your introduction will set the tone for the rest of your speech.
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Practical Tips for Speaking in Non-Academic Settings
- Two types of speeches given in non-academic settings are entertainment speeches and persuasive speeches.
- Will they respond well to the content of your speech?
- In the case of fundraising, the speech is meant to convince people that the cause is worthy of a donation.
- Focus on the end result of your speech when preparing - all parts of your speech should focus on the end goal of your persuasive topic.
- Chose your words wisely - focus on terms that have heavy emotional appeal like "freedom," "right," "wrong" and "liberty. "
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The Speech to Secure Goodwill
- Perhaps one of the most famous goodwill speeches was made by President John F.
- ...You live in a defended island of freedom, but your life is part of the main.
- So let me ask you, as I close, to lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today, to the hopes of tomorrow, beyond the freedom merely of this city of Berlin, or your country of Germany, to the advance of freedom everywhere, beyond the wall to the day of peace with justice, beyond yourselves and ourselves to all mankind.
- Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free.
- Kennedy's famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner) is a prime example of a speech to secure goodwill.
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Best Practices in Public Speaking
- Good public speaking begins with the content of the speech itself.
- The first thing you should consider is the topic, or subject, of the speech.
- When writing the speech, keep the purpose of your words in mind.
- This will also help you memorize what you've written, thereby allowing you more freedom with your delivery.
- Envisioning the speech going well can also lead you to a feeling of empowerment.
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Preparing to Present
- By freeing yourself from reading off a sheet or many sheets of paper, you lose some of the rigidity that comes with reading a speech off a script.
- It never hurts to have a copy of your speech on hand when you plan on memorizing your speech.
- By preparing an outline or a few note cards with keys points in the order you plan to present them, you have the freedom to have open body posture with a safety net of reference.
- It's completely normal to be nervous about giving your first speech in front of a large group of people.
- You can even read your speech in front of trusted friends or colleagues.