Speaking skills are the skills that enable someone to speak with ease in a small or large group. Most people spend a lot of time talking. But most are nervous about making a speech before an audience. Many people are terrified if they have to make a public speech.
This article gives guidelines for preparing and delivering a speech. The guidelines can help you become a confident speaker. If you are a student, you will probably give a variety of oral presentations. You may never have to address a huge audience. But sometime during your life you may be asked to give a committee report at a club meeting, ask for donations for a charity, or make a presentation to your boss. The information in this article will help you communicate more effectively in a variety of everyday situations.
Preparing a speech
There are six basic steps in preparing a speech. They are (1) analyzing the audience, (2) choosing a topic, (3) determining the purpose of the speech, (4) gathering information, (5) organizing the content, and (6) choosing a format.
Analyzing the audience.
To speak effectively before a group of people, you need to know something about them. You need to know such factors as their age and educational level and their attitudes regarding various subjects. You also must know the size of your audience.
Age and educational level.
People of different ages and educational levels have different vocabularies and different abilities to understand ideas. Be sure your audience can understand what you are talking about and adjust your vocabulary to their abilities. Also consider how much knowledge about the topic your audience already has. For example, a speech about African folk crafts presented to a group of 8-year-olds would be far different from a speech on the same topic presented to a group of teen-agers. The language you use and the number and kinds of facts you present would differ.
Attitudes.
If you are presenting a controversial topic, try to find what attitude your audience already holds toward the topic. Are most of the members inclined to agree or disagree with the position you will present? Or are they indifferent? If they are indifferent or likely to disagree, you may have to gather more facts and present them more forcefully to be effective.
Size.
A large group may require a more formal speech presentation than a small group. If the group is large, you may be speaking behind a podium or on a stage. If the group is small, you simply may be seated at a table with the other members of the group. These factors may influence your choice of speech format and your delivery techniques.
Choosing a topic.
There are several points to consider in choosing a topic. First, choose a topic that interests you or that you already know something about. You are more likely to enjoy preparing and delivering a speech on a topic you like than on one you do not particularly care about. You are also more likely to get a good response from your audience. Second, consider the probable interests of your audience. A speech on how to improve scores on video games might win an enthusiastic response from a group of 11-year-olds. But such a speech would probably be of little interest to a group of senior citizens. Third, make sure the topic and tone of your speech fit the occasion. You would not make the same kind of speech at a graduation ceremony that you would at a sports day gathering. Fourth, if your topic requires research, see that the necessary information is readily available. Finally, make sure you can cover your topic adequately within the time allowed. Limit your topic so you can present your main idea and support it with meaningful details.
Determining the purpose.
Almost every speech has at least one of three main purposes: (1) to inform, (2) to persuade, or (3) to entertain. An informative speech provides information and consists largely of facts presented in a straightforward manner. A persuasive speech tries to persuade an audience to do something or adopt a particular point of view. Persuasive speeches may rely on emotional appeals as well as facts to achieve their purpose. An entertaining speech provides a pleasant experience for the audience and may have a more informal tone than the other two kinds of speeches.
Loading the player...Eleanor Roosevelt on human rights
Many speeches have two or three main purposes. For example, you may try to entertain the members of your audience to win them over—or persuade them—to accept your point of view.
Gathering information.
If your speech requires information you do not already have, you will need to do research. Here are three ways to go about it:
Observe the subject matter itself.
If your speech is about how newspapers are recycled, for example, you could visit a recycling plant to observe the process.
Use the library.
The books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, electronic databases, websites, and other materials you will find will provide information on almost any speech topic.
Interview an expert or others who have firsthand knowledge.
If you are preparing a speech on the effects of budget cutbacks on elementary schools, for example, you might interview the principal and some of the teachers at a local elementary school.
For pointers on how to do research, see Research skills .
Organizing the content.
Like a written report, a good speech needs good organization. Most speeches are organized in three parts: (1) the introduction, (2) the body, and (3) the conclusion.
As you develop the content of your speech, always keep in mind the importance of attracting your audience’s interest in the beginning and holding it to the end. The introduction to your speech needs to tell the members of your audience what your speech is about—but in a way that will make them want to listen. Do not begin by saying, “This speech is about.…” Instead, try using a personal anecdote or lead in with a dramatic statement.
In the body of the speech, present your main points and supporting details. Make sure the details are closely related to your topic and interesting to your audience. You can present your main points in several ways, depending on your topic. You can arrange them in order of importance, putting the most important points first. You can use chronological order, describing events in the order in which they occurred. In some speeches, you might discuss a topic that is new to your audience or difficult to understand. In such cases, begin with the simplest facts and work your way up to the more difficult ones. Or think of something that the members of your audience already know about that could help them understand the new or more difficult topic.
The conclusion of your speech is your last opportunity to impress the members of your audience. Try to leave them with something to think about. In many cases, a quotation from a famous person could provide a memorable conclusion to your topic.
An outline can help you organize the ideas and facts that make up each part of your speech. The phrases or sentences of the outline briefly state the points to be presented. You may use a formal outline format, as described in Writing skills (Preparing an outline) . Or your outline may consist of a simple list of points to be covered—in proper order, of course. You can use the outline as a guide when you deliver your speech.
Choosing a format.
You need to decide what kind of format to use in delivering your speech. You have four choices: (1) reading the speech, (2) memorizing the speech, (3) speaking impromptu, and (4) speaking extemporaneously. In choosing a speech format, make sure it is one you are comfortable with and one that suits the occasion. Each format has advantages and disadvantages.
Reading the speech
may seem like the safest format. You do not have to worry about forgetting anything, and you can make sure your speech precisely fits the allotted time. But reading your speech also has disadvantages. You may become so engrossed in your manuscript that you forget to look up at the audience. You may begin speaking in a monotone, causing your listeners to lose interest. Once they have lost interest, the point of your speech may never get across. Reading your speech also makes it difficult to adjust the content in response to audience reactions.
If you choose to read your speech, type it double-spaced or write it out neatly so that you can read it easily. Some people write their speeches on large note cards and make an effort to look up at the audience at least at the end of each card.
Memorizing the speech
requires that you first write it out and then memorize it word for word. Depending on the length of the speech, this type of delivery could mean hours or days of extra preparation time and effort. The format also has several other disadvantages. You might skip an important point or forget what comes next. You might concentrate so hard on remembering the speech that your voice sounds unnatural. And you will be unlikely to add remarks or otherwise adjust your speech to suit the mood of the audience. If you decide to memorize your speech, you will have to keep in mind the need to make your delivery natural and relaxed.
Speaking impromptu
requires little or no preparation. As a result, it is rarely used for a formal speech. Comments offered at a committee meeting or club gathering are examples of impromptu speaking. This format can succeed only if you are well-informed about the subject. An impromptu speech enables you to give a lively, spontaneous delivery. What you say can be suited specifically to the mood of the audience. But an impromptu speech risks being unorganized. Without adequate preparation, you may ramble and never get your point across effectively. If you know ahead of time that you would like to say something at a meeting or other occasion, take at least a few minutes to organize your thoughts and perhaps jot down your main ideas to serve as a checklist.
Speaking extemporaneously
is the most commonly used type of delivery in public speaking. You organize your ideas in a written outline and use it as a guide when you give your speech. An extemporaneous speech has the advantage of being both organized and spontaneous. Although you do not write down the complete speech, you can refer to the key words or sentences of the outline to keep yourself “on track.” You can easily add or omit details on the basis of audience reaction. And it is not as difficult to maintain eye contact with your audience when you speak extemporaneously as it is when you read from a manuscript.
To take full advantage of the flexibility of the extemporaneous speech, learn about your topic in depth. Gather more details than you will actually need. That way, you will have a full stock of material to draw upon to keep your speech interesting. You can also vary the content, depending on the audience’s reaction.
Rehearsing and delivering a speech
After you have completed all the steps in preparing your speech, you are ready to begin rehearsing unless you are going to give an impromptu speech. Rehearsing is obviously necessary for a memorized speech, but it is also vital to a good extemporaneous speech or to a speech you plan to read. The more you rehearse your speech, the more confident you will be when the time comes to deliver it.
As you rehearse, remember that you want to convey more than information. You also want to convey enthusiasm for your topic. If you sound interested, your audience will be more likely to listen to, and enjoy, your speech.
How to rehearse.
Begin rehearsing by using your outline or reading aloud from your manuscript. As you repeat the speech many times, you will come to depend less and less on your written words. If possible, make a tape recording or videotape of your speech and listen to it critically. You may find that you are not pronouncing all your words clearly or that you are going too fast or too slow.
Next, practice in front of a mirror, paying attention to your posture and gestures. Then, ask someone to listen to your speech and give an honest reaction to both content and delivery. Your listener may be able to spot distracting mannerisms that you should correct, such as clenching your fists at your sides or shuffling your feet. You can also videotape yourself to observe your own strengths and weaknesses. Finally, if you will be delivering your speech in an unfamiliar place, try to practice it there at least once. That way, you can practice with a podium and microphone if they are to be provided.
Your voice.
The way you use your voice can add greatly to the impression you make when delivering your speech. As you speak, pay special attention to the volume, speed, and pitch of your voice and to clarity of pronunciation.
Volume.
Obviously, you will want to speak loudly enough so that the audience can easily hear you. You will have to consider such factors as the size of the room, whether you will be using a microphone, and whether there are outside noises you must speak over. Try to vary your volume to make your voice sound more interesting. At times, you might speak more loudly to emphasize an important point. At other times, you might gain attention by speaking more softly, making the audience listen more carefully.
Speed.
Do not speak so fast that you slur your words or become difficult to understand. If you have a time limit, pace yourself so that you can finish your speech without having to hurry at the end. Varying your speed from time to time can make your speech more effective. You can slow down to emphasize a point. And a dramatic pause at the end of a particularly important statement can be an effective technique.
Pitch
is how high or low your voice sounds. You vary your pitch automatically during normal conversation. Your voice sounds higher when you are excited and lower when you are serious. During a speech, your voice should follow this natural pattern of pitch variation. Try to avoid speaking in a monotone.
Clarity of pronunciation.
Speak as distinctly as you can without sounding unnatural. Avoid saying “er” or “uh” between words or phrases. Enunciate word endings, such as -ing, clearly.
Your appearance
and the way you use your body can be almost as important as your voice when you give a speech. Dress neatly in comfortable clothing that is appropriate to your audience. Avoid wearing unusual clothes or jewelry that might distract the audience or get in your way as you speak. Stand up straight, but in a relaxed manner. Do not slouch or lean on the podium if you are using one. Try to keep a pleasant expression on your face.
As you speak, keep eye contact with your audience. Do not look up at the ceiling or down at the floor. If you are reading from a manuscript, hold it up slightly so that you can easily glance at the audience from time to time.
Gestures can help emphasize important parts of your speech. But do not overdo them. If you gesture constantly, you will lessen the effect and make the audience more aware of your gestures than your words. And make sure your gestures look natural and blend smoothly with what you are saying.
Audio-visual aids
can enliven your presentation. Such aids include drawings, photographs, maps, charts, graphs, diagrams, chalkboards, models, photographic or computer slides, computer graphics, films, records, tape recordings, and videotapes. Audio-visual aids can add welcome variety to your speech and help hold the audience’s attention. They can enable the audience to understand exactly what you mean. They can also make your speech more memorable by leaving the audience with a more vivid impression of your topic than words alone can convey.
Whichever kind of audio-visual aid you choose, be sure it serves a definite purpose. An effective aid should clarify, illustrate, or dramatize a fact or idea. For example, a speech explaining how the human ear works would benefit from a drawing, model, or computer animation of an ear. A discussion of various dialects might be greatly enhanced by a tape recording.
Be sure your audio-visual aid fits your needs precisely. If you want to show where major battles of World War II occurred, for example, do not just use a map of Europe. In graphs and charts, the use of different colors can make statistical comparisons much easier to understand. You also need to be sure that your visual aid is big enough to be seen by the entire audience and that it is clearly labeled. Take into consideration the size of the room and the size of the audience as you choose and prepare your audio-visual aids.
Rehearse with your audio-visual aids so you can incorporate them smoothly into your speech. Here’s a list of points to remember when using audio-visual aids:
- Have them set up and ready to use before your speech. If an aid is particularly interesting or unusual, it may be a good idea to have the aid handy, but hidden, until the appropriate time in your speech. Otherwise, your audience may be too distracted to pay close attention to the earlier parts of your speech.
- Mount illustrations and set them up on an easel, rather than trying to hold them while speaking.
- If you are going to write on a chalkboard or paper, remember to keep turning back to your listeners to keep your eye contact with them.
- If you will be using such equipment as a film, a tape, a videotape recorder, or a computer, check it out before you speak. Be sure it is in good working order and that an electrical outlet is nearby.
- Do not pass a visual aid around during your speech. It is too distracting. If you have material to pass out, do it before or after your speech.
- Do not stand in front of a visual aid or block the view of part of the audience.
- Remember to talk to the audience, not to the aid.
Stage fright.
When the time finally comes to deliver your speech, you will probably suffer from that common ailment—stage fright. To keep your nervousness from working against you, concentrate on what the person speaking before you is saying, rather than worrying about your own presentation.
When your turn comes, take a deep breath or two to help stay calm. Act confident, even if you do not feel confident. Remember that your audience is rooting for you to do well. Walk briskly to your place and look directly at the audience to gain the group’s attention. Then begin. Once you begin speaking, your nervousness will decrease.
