Sound Recording Analysis Worksheet
Franklin D. Roosevelt's 'Day of Infamy' Speech
Step 1. Pre-listening:
- Whose voice will you hear on the recording?
_____________________________________________ - What is the date of the recording?
_____________________________________________ - Where was the recording made?
_____________________________________________
Step 2. Listening:
- What special physical qualities of the recording exist, such as music, live broadcasting, narration, sound effects, or background sounds? ___________________________________________________________________________
- What is the tone or mood of the recording?
___________________________________________________________________________ - What can you tell about the speaker from his voice and delivery?
___________________________________________________________________________ - Does this speech have a greater or lesser effect on you in its spoken form than in its written form? Analyze your reaction.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Step 3. Post-listening (or repeated listening):
- List at least three changes between the first draft and the spoken address.
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________ - How did these changes add or detract from the effect of this speech on Congress and the people of the United States?
___________________________________________________________________________ -
How did President Roosevelt use his voice to add to the effect of his words? Consider pitch, volume, pace, and pauses.
___________________________________________________________________________ - You are a member of Congress sitting in the Senate chamber. Before Roosevelt's speech, you were undecided whether to vote to continue U.S. isolation or to commit the country to war. On the back of this worksheet, write a letter to someone at home explaining how listening to this speech affected you.