Oral - Australia needs to focus more on education

[Jason12]

what could some of my main points be? Do I need to define the issue/problem first and then provide reasons why the issue is a problem or how the issue can be solved or both?

[M_BONG]

what could some of my main points be? Do I need to define the issue/problem first and then provide reasons why the issue is a problem or how the issue can be solved or both?

Yeah, since your topic is so ambiguous (ie. what do you mean by focusing more), you should contextualise the issue/problem. Show why there is a need to focus on education more.

Also, do you think this topic has specifically been in the media? Has there been reportings that we aren't focusing enough on education? I mean, our education rankings have fallen compared with many OECD countries, but you could perhaps be more issue-specific? Eg. Private vs Public school funding; Gonski; Myschool website; Improving education in low socioeconomic areas etc?

[Jason12]

i was going to mention multiple things like the cuts to education and whether maths should be compulsory in schools etc. into one topic because i'm not sure i can speak for 7-10 minutes on 1 thing

[katiesaliba]

I personally believe that Australia gives a greater importance to sport, as opposed to education and professionalism. This is predominately seen in the media. You could discuss this along with funding (or rather the lack of) and teachers' wages. Try and hone in on a specific area with this topic, as it is very broad, as aforementioned^. Make sure to make comparisons to other countries too. Good luck!

[vox nihili]

what could some of my main points be? Do I need to define the issue/problem first and then provide reasons why the issue is a problem or how the issue can be solved or both?

There are a hell of a lot of things you could discuss in regards to this topic.

-funding gaps between public and private
-declining standards, we're falling behind
-a lack of innovation in the education system
-conversely, the negatives of that innovation
-poor pay for teachers
-low ATAR requirements for teacher (both of the last two can be talked of in the context of Finland: 6 year masters degree, gets a 6 figure salary, similar social status to doctors etc)
-lack of parent engagement in education
-cultural issues surrounding education, people just don't believe in it
-Gonski funding reforms, the gap between what the Gonski report recommended and what was actually committed to
-the rise of independent schools, whether they're a working system or not
-the degradation of teaching as a profession, undervalued etc (come back to poor pay, low ATAR etc)

I agree with everyone else's comments that you need to be more defined. Australia needs to focus more on education is hardly a topic, it's an obvious statement like "Australia needs to help the needy", of course, now tell me something interesting. So narrow it down and then you'll be right, which is what I imagine you're doing here anyway

[Jason12]

but can i mention more than one of those things or just focus on one? E.g. only funding gaps between public and private?

[vox nihili]

but can i mention more than one of those things or just focus on one? E.g. only funding gaps between public and private?

You can talk about a number of things, but your speech definitely needs to have a definite theme. Something that isn't just a whinge, but something that will get you thinking about a solution.

[Jason12]

does the oral need to be structured similar to an essay where there is an intro, 3-4 main points and conclusion (but obviously not written exactly like an essay)?

e.g. contention: Australia's national standard of education is falling due to unequal education opportunities

point 1 - explain how Australia is declining in comparison to other countries (PISA, statistics etc.)
points 2 - private/public school funding
point 3 - lack of good teachers in private/public schools (due to lower wages etc.)
point 4 - ?

conclusion

[vox nihili]

does the oral need to be structured similar to an essay where there is an intro, 3-4 main points and conclusion (but obviously not written exactly like an essay)?

e.g. contention: Australia's national standard of education is falling due to unequal education opportunities

point 1 - explain how Australia is declining in comparison to other countries (PISA, statistics etc.)
points 2 - private/public school funding
point 3 - lack of good teachers in private/public schools (due to lower wages etc.)
point 4 - ?

conclusion

It doesn't have to be, but it canbe done that way.

[Jason12]

what are some basic tips to structure/write the introduction to an oral and around how many words should an oral be?

[vox nihili]

what are some basic tips to structure/write the introduction to an oral and around how many words should an oral be?

Oral Presentations: How to speak in Public (from the 2012 PESA Champion)

[Jason12]

i'm really struggling to find a third point - is it really necessary to have a 3rd defined, main point?

Australia's school education standards are falling behind

1. statistics and reasons why (using PISA report)
2. public schools not receiving enough funding leading to lower overall education in students
3. ?? I don't think i can talk about teachers not being good enough because that will probably offend my English teacher and i can't find much on innovation in education

any help please?

[M_BONG]

i'm really struggling to find a third point - is it really necessary to have a 3rd defined, main point?

Australia's school education standards are falling behind

1. statistics and reasons why (using PISA report)
2. public schools not receiving enough funding leading to lower overall education in students
3. ?? I don't think i can talk about teachers not being good enough because that will probably offend my English teacher and i can't find much on innovation in education

any help please?

With education you can afford to be a little bit more idealistic and not so academic (ie. Personal beliefs often work better than quoting statistics/studies/reports); that's where I would probably go.