Athens Speech Outline

Athens Speech Outline
COMM. 101, MWF 3
6 October 2014

Specific Purpose: After my speech, my audience will know some of the important things concerning the religion, historical figures, and contributions of Athens, Greece.

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Organizational Pattern: Topical

Intended Audience: COMM 101 Class

Introduction

I. Attention Getting Device: To whom do we owe credit for giving the world some of the biggest traditions and ideals cherished by humanity such as the marathon, democracy, and love? Perhaps it would be easier if I mentioned that this same group also introduced philosophy, geometry, and the Olympic Games! That’s right, Athens, Greece.

II. Orientation Phase:

A. Point: Athens, Greece is one of the most historically rich and unique cities in the world and yet, like so many amazing things, not many people know much about it. However, with more exploration we see what a marvelous and important place Athens is.
B. Adaptation: Now, I’m willing to bet that a majority of people here caught at least a glimpse of the last Olympic Games in London. I am even more willing to bet that a majority of you know, or have at least heard of, the hero Hercules. Now I know for a fact that all of you have seen a triangle before! If that’s true, than all of you have experienced some of wonders Athens brought into existence.
C. Credibility: Researchers at Princeton University mentioned Athens Greece as being not only one of the first democracies in the world, but also being “more powerful, stable, and well-recorded” than any other city in history!
D. Enumerated Preview: This research will illustrate the importance of Athens through three of its pioneered traditions – the Athenian religious background, important historical figures, and their pioneered system of politics and government.
Transition: One of the greatest parts of Athenian culture, and probably the most well-known is their distinct religious beliefs.

Body
I. Greek mythology comes from ancient days of Greece when God’s were still believed to fight over and rule individual cities.
A. Since Greek mythology is no longer really being practiced, the story of Greek mythology has a beginning, middle, and end. (Harpon)
1. The first part of its story comes from the naming of Athens.
a. The city of Athens, according to Greek mythology, comes from a story that has been told as long as the city has been around – it is believed that the people chose between Athena and Poseidon.
b. Athena won, and with her designated power, make Athens a great and powerful city.
2. Over the years, the Greeks have built up many stories, which they use to either teach lessons, or provide explanations for the way the world works.
a. Since there was never any explanation for why the sun rises or the sea brings in fish, the people of Athens turned to supernatural beings for explanations.
b. Parents used the stories of the Gods they had created to teach their children many stories about life.
3. Greek mythology was a religion that came to an end as newer religions began to sweep the nation.
a. As the nations of Islam, Judaism, and Catholicism began to rise and populations shifted, the conversion of faiths as small and contained as Greek mythology was rapid.
b. Although the religion that ancient Athenians used to follow isn’t recognized as a religion anymore, it is still regarded as some of the greatest stories ever written.
B. Although the faith became all but extinct, the stories that accompanied Greek mythology became a sensation in different cultures and remain spectacular today.
1. Mythological figures certainly exist in modern Western culture and only appear to be growing.
2. Greek mythological gods pioneered the idea of supernatural powers and inspired the world to create the newer “super-heroes” we have today.
Transition: As fast and as welcomed Greek mythology was and is to western culture, there is another tradition of Greece that has infiltrated western borders even faster – the Greek system of government and politics.

II. Athens was the foundation of the democratic form of government and its practices lie as the blueprints by which our own democracy is made. (Ganter)
A. Origins of Athenian Government.
1. The people of Athens were given a choice in Greek mythology to pick for themselves a rules. They found this system, where everyone had a vote, pleasing and fair so the systemized it.
a. The Athenians were forced to choose between Athena, the goddess of peace and victory, or Poseidon strength and prosperity. Although it was very unorganized, this decision relied on the very basics of democracy.
b. Greeks had areas in which there would be a council called to represent the people. With this, each voice would not need to be heard but simply represented.

2. Although Athenian government was a good start, there were many flaws that were built off of it for modern democracy.
a. The Athenians couldn’t decide how they felt about having one king or ruler.
b. They also could not decide how the people should be represented with the given population and territories covered.
B. Athenian democracy, although certainly not perfect, was highly developed and laid the foundation for several countries around the world today.
Transition: Although, Greek gods and politics are important parts of the past and todays culture, Athens still has one more great contribution to its own history and the world today.
III. “Without the great philosophers of the world, we, as a population, would not find God.” (Crown)
A. There are so many great scientists and philosophers that originated in Greece and their contributions are not small. The first would be Aristotle.
1. The man who made sense of senseless. A great philosopher known for his thought provoking questions.
2. Aristotle was most well-known from breaking down the knowledge down into branches as opposed to thinking of it as one whole subject.
B. Socrates – the man credited for western philosophy
1. Socrates represents much of Athens as one of the greatest philosophers of all time.
2. Socrates was known for being the first great philosopher on ethics.
Transition: However, these philosophers only represent a small portion of the total brilliance Athens brought to the world.

Conclusion

I. Summary: Athens, Greece is a city that cannot be forgotten because it brings to us some of the most important things in the world today including its influence on politics, storytelling, and philosophy.
II. Concluding Device: Athens the city that ascends to the heavens. Although many of its historical values that it is so well known for cannot be observed today, its legacy will reign on forever as one of the greatest cities to ever exist.

References
Harpon, Jacob. “Socrates Biography.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2014.

Ganter, Crause”Greek Mythology :: Greek Gods :: Greek Goddesses :: Greek Myths.” Greek Mythology :: Greek Gods :: Greek Goddesses :: Greek Myths. N.p., Mar.-Apr. 2011. Web. 03 Oct. 2014.

Crown, Rutherd A. “Government and Politics.” – About Greece. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2014

Williams, Lewis. “HISTORY OF ATHENS.” HISTORY OF ATHENS. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.