It's not difficult to prepare a speech if you follow a process.There are tried-and-true steps for putting together a talk, so relax and read on to get your speech in order.
Step 1: It's time to be clear on the occasion.
To get started on the right foot, you need to know what kind of speech you're giving and why your audience is gathering to hear it.If your speech is meant to be a personal narrative, be aware.There is a personal narrative.A narrative is a word for a story.If you're asked to tell a story about yourself, make sure you know if the intention is to use something that's happened to you in order to teach a lesson, convey a moral, offer inspiration or simply to entertain.The speech was informative.There are two types of informative speeches.If you're charged with doing a process speech, the idea is for you to explain how something works.The audience is taken step-by-step through the process.If you want to educate your audience about the topic of your speech, you need to break it down into sections.The speech was persuasive.It's your job to convince your audience to adopt a particular way of thinking, a belief or a behavior that you advocate for.A speech.Celebratory speeches include wedding toasts, graduation speeches, and farewell addresses.Many of these speeches are intended to be short and the focus is often on entertaining, inspiring or increasing the audience's appreciation for someone or something.
Step 2: Pick a topic that will appeal to your audience.
If you have the option, speak about something that your audience will enjoy.Sometimes you don't have a choice about the topic, but you are assigned to speak about it.You need to find ways to keep your audience interested in what you have to say.
Step 3: Establish a goal.
On behalf of your audience, write a one-sentence statement about what you want to accomplish."I want my audience to learn the four things they should look for when buying a diamond, or I want to convince them to give up fast food for a month."It may sound simplistic, but writing down this kind of goal statement does two things: it helps keep you on track as you begin putting your speech together, and it reminds you to keep your focus on your audience.
Step 4: Keep in mind your audience.
If you devoted yourself to putting together a speech and the audience didn't know what you said, it would be a waste of time.You want to think of ways to make what you say interesting and relevant to your audience.You can read the newspaper.You can highlight the relevance of what you say to your audience if you link your speech topic to something happening in the news.Take numbers and translate them.If you translate statistics in a way that the audience can understand, they can be even more meaningful.You could say that worldwide, 7.6 million people die of cancer every year, but make it more relevant by saying that the number represents the entire population of Switzerland.Let the benefits be known.It's a good idea to let your audience know what to expect in your speech.Tell them how to save money.Make it clear if the information you're about to share will make their lives easier.Let them know if they'll get a new appreciation.
Step 5: Know what you're talking about.
If you sit down, gather your thoughts, and put all of your ideas on paper, you might not need to do anything else.It is necessary to do research in order to speak about a topic that is unfamiliar to you.You will fall somewhere between the two extremes most of the time.
Step 6: Do a lot of research.
The internet is a great place to find out more about your speech topic, but don't stop there.You can use your school's library databases if you're a student.Many libraries subscribe to databases that hold thousands of articles.You have free access to those databases if you have a library card.Do you want to conduct a survey or interview someone who is an expert in your topic?The more ways you can gather the information, the more successful you will be.You can use various research sources to give your speech breadth.
Step 7: Don't plagiarize.
If you use information from an outside source in your speech, you should give credit to that source.Keep a record of where you're getting your information so that you can cite it later.
Step 8: Do you want to outline or script?
Narrative, informative and persuasive speeches lend themselves to being outlined while ceremonial speeches are best written out.There is an outline.You structuring your speech as a series of points when you outline."I want my audience to learn the four things they should look for when buying a diamond," you might say.You would give your audience more information under each point.There are either complete sentences or a series of abbreviated phrases and reminders.One way to begin is to write complete sentences and then transfer your outline to note cards which you can use to shorten those sentences.There is a script.It makes sense to write out ceremonial speeches because the words you choose to use are important.You're meant to inspire or entertain or pay tribute to someone, so saying exactly what you mean and have prepared increases your chances of success.Take out your old English textbooks and look at things like metaphors and similes.The impact of a ceremonial speech can be increased by these kinds of devices.Having a page full of words in front of you can cause you to fall into the trap of simply reading from your script without looking up, making eye contact or engaging with the audience in any way.If you practice hard, you can eliminate your chances of falling into this trip.
Step 9: You should have all the pieces in place.
A speech consists of an introduction, a body and a conclusion.All of these elements should be in your speech.There is an introduction.An attention-getter and a preview of what's to come in the speech are two of the things that make a good introduction.Give attention to something.The most important thing to do in your introduction is to grab the attention of your audience.You can ask a question, say something surprising, use a quote or proverb related to your speech topic, or tell a short story.It's easier to get your audience hooked in the beginning than to try and get them interested as your speech progresses.You can offer a preview.A preview is similar to the "coming attractions" of your speech.The main points of your speech should be told to your audience.You will get to that when you come to the body of your speech.To cover what you need to say here, you can write a one sentence preview.The body.The "meat" of your speech lies in the body.The body is made up of the points you outlined and the information you scripted.There are a number of ways to organize the information within the body of your speech.Based on your speech goal, choose an organizational pattern that makes sense.Conclusion.You have two things to accomplish in your conclusion.The idea is to wrap things up in a way that is memorable and definite, and this is not the place to introduce any new information.Give a brief description.One of the ways an audience remembers a speech is through repetition.You gave a preview in your introduction.You talked about those things in your speech body.In your conclusion, remind your audience what you said.You can give a brief review of the main points of your speech.End with a stick.A conclusion is a statement that gives your speech a sense of closure.One easy way to remember what you said in your speech is to write a statement that refers back to it.This helps bring your presentation to a close.
Step 10: The visuals should be used to benefit the audience.
There are many reasons to use visual aids.They are able to make things simpler to understand, they appeal to visual learners, and they can help an audience view you as more persuasive.You need to be clear on what you want to accomplish with each visual in your speech.
Step 11: Look at the visuals that suit the speech.
It's a good idea to use visual aids in your speech, but be sure to choose ones that make sense.In the speech where the speaker wants the audience to learn the four things to look for when buying a diamond, it would make sense to show a diagram of the diamond where a jeweler makes cuts.Side-by-side photos of clear, white and yellow diamonds would be helpful to the audience.It wouldn't be helpful to show an exterior photo of a jewelry store.
Step 12: It's a good idea to use PowerPoint with care.
PowerPoint can be used to deliver visual aids.It's easy to use to show photos, charts, and graphs.There are some common mistakes that speakers make.Once you stop and think about them, they are easy to avoid.Don't write everything on your slides.We have all been through speeches where the speaker did little more than read off his or her slides.The audience disengages when that's boring.Word charts can be used to preview, review or highlight key information.The sides should be a supplement to what you're going to say.Your slides should be readable.Don't overcrowd your slides and use a size that is easy for your audience to read.The material on your slides will not have served any purpose if your audience can't see it.Don't use animations too much.Changing colors can be engaging but can also distract.Special effects should be kept to a minimum.The star of the show should be a supporting player.
Step 13: Give yourself a lot of time.
The more time you have to practice your speech, the more prepared you'll feel.One guideline for the amount of time to spend on preparing a speech is one to two hours for every minute you'll be speaking.You might want to devote up to 10 hours of prep time for a speech.Your rehearsal would be just a portion of that time, and it includes all of your preparation from start to finish.Allow yourself time to practice.If you're given to Procrastination, you could find yourself with very little or no time to practice before you deliver your speech, which could leave you feeling unprepared and anxious.
Step 14: Practice in front of people.
If you can, give your speech in front of family and friends.Give them guidelines for what you'd like them to say so that you don't feel overwhelmed by helpful notes.Look at your audience.Eye contact from a speaker keeps an audience engaged.Look at the family members or friends who have agreed to be your audience as you rehearse your speech.It takes a bit of practice to be able to look at your outline, script or note cards, capture a thought or two and then deliver that information to your audience.It's another reason why rehearsal time is important.If you don't have the chance to practice in front of people, make sure you say your speech aloud when you rehearse.It's important that you don't hear the words of your speech for the first time.Speaking out loud gives you a chance to double-check and correct any mispronunciations, practice articulate your words clearly, and confirm the timing of your speech.
Step 15: Don't be upset with the changes.
Rehearing your speech allows you to make changes.You have to cut some material if it's running too long.You add more if it's too short or skimpy.Each time you practice your speech, it will come out differently.That's fine.You are a person, not a robot.If you want to convey the information in an engaging and memorable way, you don't need to get your speech perfect.
Step 16: You should get physical.
It's common for people to feel nervous before giving a speech.It's normal to have a release of adrenaline in the body when we feel threatened.The key is to engage in physical activity that will help move the adrenaline through your system.Take care and let go.Hold your fists up for a second or two and then let go.This is repeated a few times.If you squeeze the muscles in your calves tightly, you can release them.You should feel a reduction in your symptoms with each release.Take deep breaths.The more shallow breaths you take, the more you feel anxious.You have to break the cycle.Allow the air to fill your belly by taking a deep breath through your nose.Your ribcage should be expanded once your belly is full.Allow your breath to move into your chest.You can begin to exhale with the air in your chest, ribcage and belly first.This inhale-exhale cycle is repeated five times.
Step 17: Don't worry about your audience.
A good speech is not about the speaker.It's about the audience.In the beginning of your speech, plan to put your total focus on your audience.Do they really understand what you're saying?Do you need to slow down?Are they in agreement with you?Would they be willing to make a stronger connection if you moved closer?You won't have time to think about your own nerves if you put your attention on your audience.
Step 18: You can use visual aids.
If you're not planning to use visual aids, you might want to consider it.For some people, using visual aids reduces their anxiety because it makes them feel less like the center of attention; instead, they feel as though they're sharing the spotlight with the visuals.
Step 19: visualization practice
You can use visualization to create a mental image of yourself giving a speech.Close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting down.Your name is called or your introduction is given.Pick up your notes and walk to the podium.Look up to make eye contact with the audience and make sure your notes are in order.Take a picture of yourself giving a speech.You should be able to move through the entire talk successfully.When the speech is over, say "Thank you" and return to your seat.
Step 20: Don't give up, stay positive.
Don't engage in a lot of negative talk if you're feeling nervous.Say "I did the best I could prepare this speech" instead of "This speech is going to be a disaster""I'm a nervous wreck, but I know that's normal before a speech, and I won't let that stop me from doing my best."One estimate is that you need five positive thoughts to counteract every negative thought you have, so steer clear of them.