Harry Potter Informative Speech
I. Introduction A. Attention-getter: How many authors can you name that went from rags to riches in five years, created the outline for a million dollar story on a train, and has an asteroid and a dinosaur named after her? B. Tie-to-topic: Well, Joanne Kathleen Rowling is all that and more. C. Thesis: Today I would like to inform you about J.K. Rowling. D. First, we will look at her early life; secondly we will look at the books she has written in her career. Finally, we will look at the awards and worldwide fame the Harry Potter books has brought her.
II. Body A. First, Main Point #1: Early Life (According to J.K. Rowling Official Site) 1. First Years a. J. K. Rowling is the child of Peter and Anne Rowling and was born in July of 1965 at Yate General Hospital. b. She grew up in …show more content…
Chepstow, Gwent, and she went to Wyedean Comprehensive School. c. She has one younger sister named Di. 2. College a. She left Chepstow for Exeter University, where she earned a degree in French and Classics. Her course even included one year in Paris.
3. After College a. As a post-graduate she moved to London and worked as a researcher. b. Rowling then moved to northern Portugal and taught English as a foreign language. c. She got married for the first time in October of 1982. d. She gave birth to Jessica in 1993. e. She then moved to Edinburg after the marriage ended, and married Dr. Neil Murray. f. She gave birth to David in 2003, and had Mackenzie in 2005.
B. Second, Main Point #2, Books that She has Written in Her Career (According to Harry, a History by Melissa Anelli) 1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone a. The first book about Harry Potter and his adventures starts at Privet Drive number four, where an eleven-year-old Harry lives with his aunt, uncle and cousin. a. He doesn't have his own room, instead the Dursleys lets him live in a very small cupboard under the stairs. At the same time his cousin Dudley is spoiled rotten with a big room and lots of toys. b. This all changes when Harry is accepted at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. c. Soon Harry learns how to cast spells, mix potions and fly broom sticks . He also learns that his parents, who are now dead, were once magicians who were killed by the man widely known as "he who must not be named". d. During Harry’s first year at Hogwarts he has to find the sorcerer's stone before it is stolen. This stone has magical powers and it can make the owner immortal. It can furthermore transform any metal into gold. 2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets a. School is closed during summer and Harry has been at Privet Drive No. 4 during the whole summer holiday. He is longing for the school year to start so that he can meet his friends and get away from the Dursleys. b. As the summer is coming to an end Harry is warned by a house-elf, that he must not return to school, because then he will be in danger. c. Naturally Harry ignores this; and when he and his friend Ron are on their way to their first day they miss the train for some unknown reason. Weird things also happen at Hogwarts. d. Harry hears things that no one else can hear; words about killing. Someone or something is turning students into stone, and words are mysteriously written on the wall "The chamber of secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware.”
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban a. The summer holiday at the Dursleys abruptly ends when Harry uses his magic in their house, something which is strictly forbidden for the Hogwarts students. It could result in expulsion. b. At Azkaban - the wizards' prison - there is a breakout. A man known as Sirius Black escapes and heads for Hogwarts. In his sleep Sirius has been saying "He's at Hogwarts, he's at Hogwarts", and the Ministry of Magic fears that Harry's life is in danger. c. The Ministry sends the Dementors (Azkaban guards) to Hogwarts to protect him. d. But can the Dementors be trusted? The Dementors are horrible creatures that make Harry very uncomfortable and he comes to fear them more than Sirius.
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire a. Year four at Hogwarts will be a different year for the students. Harry's favorite sport Quidditch has been cancelled, and instead there will be a Triwizard Tournament between three wizards' schools. The three schools are Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. b. The Goblet of Fire will chose one champion from each school, and there are three magical tasks that the champions will have to complete. The tournament will take place during the whole school year, and the rules stipulate that the champions must be at least 17 years old to compete. c. This is because the tasks are very dangerous, and this also means that Harry is too young for the tournament. But will this stop him?
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix a. In the summer before the school start Harry is in trouble once again. Dementors show up in the muggle world and attack him and his cousin. After this attack Harry is immediately taken to the Order of the Phoenix's headquarters for protection. b. In this the fifth book Voldemort is back for sure. Harry knows it. The headmaster Dumbledore knows it. However, not everyone believes that Voldemort has returned. The Ministry of Magic refuses to acknowledge his return. Instead they appoint a new Defence against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts, someone who can teach the students the Ministry's view on this. c. Why should you read these books about a young wizard? Because they are easy and fun to read, and the plots are very good in all five books. Rowling is a talented writer and the books are very well written with humor, intelligence and vivid imagination. Reading these books makes you wish that you were back in school; back in a magical school like Hogwarts and learning magic just like Harry Potter. 6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince a. The battle against Voldemorte is not going well for The Order of the Phoenix. Familiar names keep showing up in the Obituaries of The Daily Prophet. The muggles have even noticed some of the outrageous events occurring. And Dumbledore is missing from Hogwarts for mysterious stretches of time. b. But life does go on. Harry is now in his sixth year at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and he is taking his N.E.W.T. classes. It is while he is in Potions class that he begins to receive help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince through and old battered text book. c.
Dumbledore draws Harry deeper into his plans to eliminate Voldemorte once and for all. And Hogwarts becomes center stage for the thrilling story that is bringing all the threads of the previous books together. 7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows a. The final book in Harry Potter series is a griping odyssey. It is a hero’s mission; not only is Harry on a quest to carry out the mission Dumbledore charged him with: to find and destroy the elusive Horcruxs in hope of saving his own life. The Deathly Hallows is also a journey from boyhood to becoming a man. b. The question of where Snape’s loyalty lies propels one through the book from one harrowing adventure to another. As Harry has become the would the leader of an unlikely gang of those revolting against Voldemorte, he is forced again and again to choose between what is right and what is easy. c. The ending is heart wrenching. There is triumph and tragedy, and more perils than Harry has ever faced before. But in the throbbing finale Rowling grasps hold of all our emotions and unanswered questions in a spectacular
conclusion.
C. Finally, Main Point #3, Fame and Awards (According to the Leaky Cauldron.org) 1. Wealth
a. J.K. Rowling is the richest author on the planet.
b. It is estimated that she has made between 600 million and 700 million Euros. 2. Book Stats
a. She has sold over 325 million copies of her books.
b. Her books have been translated into sixty languages. 3. Fame
a. Rowling has a asteroid and a dinosaur named after her.
b. She has been made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001.
c. Rowling is also a big charity donator.
4. Awards
a. Rowling’s books have earned metals and awards all over the world.
b. She has received a lot of the Smarties awards for her age group.
c. She has also been on several best seller lists.
III. Conclusion
A. First, we looked at her early life, then we looked at her books she has written in her career, and finally we looked at the awards and fame the Harry Potter series has brought her.
B. Today I have informed you about the author J.K. Rowling. She is an extraordinary woman who has made a huge impact on the world. So next time you think of boy wizard flying around on a broom stick, I hope you think of this women who has contributed a lot to child literature.
II. Body A. First, Main Point #1: Early Life (According to J.K. Rowling Official Site) 1. First Years a. J. K. Rowling is the child of Peter and Anne Rowling and was born in July of 1965 at Yate General Hospital. b. She grew up in …show more content…
Chepstow, Gwent, and she went to Wyedean Comprehensive School. c. She has one younger sister named Di. 2. College a. She left Chepstow for Exeter University, where she earned a degree in French and Classics. Her course even included one year in Paris.
3. After College a. As a post-graduate she moved to London and worked as a researcher. b. Rowling then moved to northern Portugal and taught English as a foreign language. c. She got married for the first time in October of 1982. d. She gave birth to Jessica in 1993. e. She then moved to Edinburg after the marriage ended, and married Dr. Neil Murray. f. She gave birth to David in 2003, and had Mackenzie in 2005.
B. Second, Main Point #2, Books that She has Written in Her Career (According to Harry, a History by Melissa Anelli) 1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone a. The first book about Harry Potter and his adventures starts at Privet Drive number four, where an eleven-year-old Harry lives with his aunt, uncle and cousin. a. He doesn't have his own room, instead the Dursleys lets him live in a very small cupboard under the stairs. At the same time his cousin Dudley is spoiled rotten with a big room and lots of toys. b. This all changes when Harry is accepted at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. c. Soon Harry learns how to cast spells, mix potions and fly broom sticks . He also learns that his parents, who are now dead, were once magicians who were killed by the man widely known as "he who must not be named". d. During Harry’s first year at Hogwarts he has to find the sorcerer's stone before it is stolen. This stone has magical powers and it can make the owner immortal. It can furthermore transform any metal into gold. 2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets a. School is closed during summer and Harry has been at Privet Drive No. 4 during the whole summer holiday. He is longing for the school year to start so that he can meet his friends and get away from the Dursleys. b. As the summer is coming to an end Harry is warned by a house-elf, that he must not return to school, because then he will be in danger. c. Naturally Harry ignores this; and when he and his friend Ron are on their way to their first day they miss the train for some unknown reason. Weird things also happen at Hogwarts. d. Harry hears things that no one else can hear; words about killing. Someone or something is turning students into stone, and words are mysteriously written on the wall "The chamber of secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware.”
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban a. The summer holiday at the Dursleys abruptly ends when Harry uses his magic in their house, something which is strictly forbidden for the Hogwarts students. It could result in expulsion. b. At Azkaban - the wizards' prison - there is a breakout. A man known as Sirius Black escapes and heads for Hogwarts. In his sleep Sirius has been saying "He's at Hogwarts, he's at Hogwarts", and the Ministry of Magic fears that Harry's life is in danger. c. The Ministry sends the Dementors (Azkaban guards) to Hogwarts to protect him. d. But can the Dementors be trusted? The Dementors are horrible creatures that make Harry very uncomfortable and he comes to fear them more than Sirius.
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire a. Year four at Hogwarts will be a different year for the students. Harry's favorite sport Quidditch has been cancelled, and instead there will be a Triwizard Tournament between three wizards' schools. The three schools are Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. b. The Goblet of Fire will chose one champion from each school, and there are three magical tasks that the champions will have to complete. The tournament will take place during the whole school year, and the rules stipulate that the champions must be at least 17 years old to compete. c. This is because the tasks are very dangerous, and this also means that Harry is too young for the tournament. But will this stop him?
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix a. In the summer before the school start Harry is in trouble once again. Dementors show up in the muggle world and attack him and his cousin. After this attack Harry is immediately taken to the Order of the Phoenix's headquarters for protection. b. In this the fifth book Voldemort is back for sure. Harry knows it. The headmaster Dumbledore knows it. However, not everyone believes that Voldemort has returned. The Ministry of Magic refuses to acknowledge his return. Instead they appoint a new Defence against the dark arts teacher at Hogwarts, someone who can teach the students the Ministry's view on this. c. Why should you read these books about a young wizard? Because they are easy and fun to read, and the plots are very good in all five books. Rowling is a talented writer and the books are very well written with humor, intelligence and vivid imagination. Reading these books makes you wish that you were back in school; back in a magical school like Hogwarts and learning magic just like Harry Potter. 6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince a. The battle against Voldemorte is not going well for The Order of the Phoenix. Familiar names keep showing up in the Obituaries of The Daily Prophet. The muggles have even noticed some of the outrageous events occurring. And Dumbledore is missing from Hogwarts for mysterious stretches of time. b. But life does go on. Harry is now in his sixth year at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and he is taking his N.E.W.T. classes. It is while he is in Potions class that he begins to receive help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince through and old battered text book. c.
Dumbledore draws Harry deeper into his plans to eliminate Voldemorte once and for all. And Hogwarts becomes center stage for the thrilling story that is bringing all the threads of the previous books together. 7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows a. The final book in Harry Potter series is a griping odyssey. It is a hero’s mission; not only is Harry on a quest to carry out the mission Dumbledore charged him with: to find and destroy the elusive Horcruxs in hope of saving his own life. The Deathly Hallows is also a journey from boyhood to becoming a man. b. The question of where Snape’s loyalty lies propels one through the book from one harrowing adventure to another. As Harry has become the would the leader of an unlikely gang of those revolting against Voldemorte, he is forced again and again to choose between what is right and what is easy. c. The ending is heart wrenching. There is triumph and tragedy, and more perils than Harry has ever faced before. But in the throbbing finale Rowling grasps hold of all our emotions and unanswered questions in a spectacular
conclusion.
C. Finally, Main Point #3, Fame and Awards (According to the Leaky Cauldron.org) 1. Wealth
a. J.K. Rowling is the richest author on the planet.
b. It is estimated that she has made between 600 million and 700 million Euros. 2. Book Stats
a. She has sold over 325 million copies of her books.
b. Her books have been translated into sixty languages. 3. Fame
a. Rowling has a asteroid and a dinosaur named after her.
b. She has been made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001.
c. Rowling is also a big charity donator.
4. Awards
a. Rowling’s books have earned metals and awards all over the world.
b. She has received a lot of the Smarties awards for her age group.
c. She has also been on several best seller lists.
III. Conclusion
A. First, we looked at her early life, then we looked at her books she has written in her career, and finally we looked at the awards and fame the Harry Potter series has brought her.
B. Today I have informed you about the author J.K. Rowling. She is an extraordinary woman who has made a huge impact on the world. So next time you think of boy wizard flying around on a broom stick, I hope you think of this women who has contributed a lot to child literature.