TooltoOrganize,Plan,andPrepareforSpeechPresentation
HTTP://WWW.TOASTMASTERS-LIGHTNING.ORG/
SPEECHPREPARATIONFRAMEWORK(REVISION:JANUARY18,2018)
FOODFORTHOUGHT:FINDING,SELECTINGASPEECHTOPIC- Whatoccupiesyourtimeotherthanschoolwork?Why/howdoyouenjoythat?- Whatkindofbooks,readingsappealtoyouandwhy?- Whatkindofexperienceshavestayedclosetoyourheart,whatkindofemotionsdotheyinspireinyou
(whetherthatishappiness,fear,challenge,anxiety,fun…etc.)?- Whatworriesyou,whatbringsanxietytoyou?- Whatareyourdreams,goals?- Whichmoviesdidyouenjoy?Whichmoviesleftalastingimpressiononyou?Why?- Describeaproblemyou’vesolved,oraproblemyou’dliketosolve?- Whatwereyourfavoriteevents(e.g.performances,exhibits,competitions,conferences…etc.)inrecent
years?- Describesomethingoutsideofyouracademicareaoffocusthatyouareinterestedinlearning.- Didanyofthecurrenteventsintriguedyou,ormadeyouthink?- Arethereanynewideas,topics,orsubjectsthatintrigueyou?Whatarethose?Why?- Whatbringsfunandexcitementinyourlife?Withtoastmasters,youarepreparingforaspeechtoachieveobjectivesofaspecificprojectinyourmanual.Whenyouarefindingaspeechtopic,keepthatinmindaswell.Examples:1. Ifyourspeechprojectisaboutresearchingatopic:
a. Wouldsharingapersonalstoryhelp?Probablynot,asyouwon’thavemuchroomtoconductresearchanduseit.
b. Wouldpresentingideasonnanotechnologywork?Probablyyes,sincetopicwouldcreateopportunitytodoresearch,compileideasandpresentthemwithyourspeech.
2. Ifyourspeechprojectisaboutusingvocalvariety:a. Wouldtellingastoryhelp?Probablyyes.Voiceinflectionscanhelpyoudevelopemotional
connections,dialoguesinyourstorycaneasilylendthemselvestovocalvariety.b. Wouldsharinganexperiencehelp?Probablyyes.c. Wouldpresentingatechnicaltopichelp?Yes,orNo.
i. Yes,ifyouconsciouslyattempttoinjectpassionintoyourdelivery.ii. No,iffocusoncontenttakesawayfromyourabilitytoengageemotionally.
Optionsa&bwoulddefinitelymakeiteasier.However,youcanmakeoptionctoworkforyouaswellifyouputenoughprepintoit,andhavemoreproactivemindsetforvocalvariety.
TWOOBJECTIVESFORSPEAKERTODEVELOPPERSPECTIVEWITHTHESPEECH
1. Whatisyourideatodevelopwiththisspeech?Makeitcleartoyourself.2. Onceitiscleartoyou,thegoalofyourpresentationshouldbetocreatethatsameideainmindsofyour
audience.Whatwouldittake,sothatyouraudiencewillgetyouridea?Whatwouldittakeforyouraudiencetoclearlyseeitfromyourperspective?
STEPSFORPUTTINGTOGETHERYOURSPEECH
STEP#1–MAINIDEA:Whatpromptedmetoselectthisasmyspeechtopic?WhatdoIlikeaboutit?Whydoesthistopicmakemethinkaboutit?
• ItisfromanexperiencethatIhad,anditmademethinkabout…• Iampassionateaboutthistopicbecause…• Ihavethoughtaboutitbeforebecause…• WhenIheardaboutit,itmademe…• Iampassionateaboutthis,andmytopicis…(this = whatever that might be for you as a person, a hobby, an
activity, a dream, a goal, or an interest to learn more about it …etc.)• Idothisallthetime,andmyspeechtopicanditsideaIthinkitsoimportantfor…(this = whatever that
might be for you as a person, a hobby, an activity, a dream, a goal, an interest to learn more about it …etc.)
Examples:
1) Ijustlearnedaboutnanotechnology,andnowIrealizeitcanhelpusinsomanyways.Iwanttolearnmoreaboutitandexplainittoothers.
2) IheardaboutshootingincidentinSanBernardino,andnowIrealizeguncontrollawsaresoimportant.Iwanttousethisspeechtoexplainmoreaboutit.
3) IwanttosharemythreegoalsthatIthinkareveryinteresting:becominganastronaut,ananimator,andacomedian.Iamsopassionateaboutthesethreethings,andIthinkitwillbefunforotherstoseemyperspectiveonthesethreegoals.
4) Iexperiencedbadposturewhilespendingalotoftimeinfrontofcomputer.Now,Iunderstandimportanceofgood,straightposture.I’dlikeotherstolearnaboutit.
5) IenjoyvolunteeringwithLION’SHEART.Itbringssomuchmeaningformewhilealsomakingadifferencetoothersinaconstructiveway.I’dliketosharemyexperience,perspectiveonit,somyaudiencewouldunderstandwhatisLION’SHEART,andhowitissomuchfunformepersonally.
6) Ienjoytechnology.Withthisspeech,Iwanttosharemyperspectiveonthreetechnologytitans:Apple,Microsoft,andGoogle.Iwanttoexplaindifferencethesecompaniesaremakingusingtheirproducts,andhowtheyimpactourlives.
7) Itisfascinatingformetounderstandhowoureyeshelpussee:howweperceivedifferentcolors,howoureyesgiveusdepthperception,whysomeofusneedglasses/contacts.I’dlikemyaudiencetounderstandthis,andappreciateanincrediblybeautifulandpricelessgiftweareblessedwith:Eyes
8) IsawthatsomanyplayersintheNationalFootballLeague(NFL)arekneelingduringnationalanthem,andthereissomuchdiscussion,debateandcontroversyarounditnow.However,Istronglyfeelthatthefundamentalissueunderlyingthis,isbeingignored.Usingthisspeech,Iwanttoexplainthattomyaudience.
9) Ilovevideogames.Theyaresomuchfunforme.IwanttosharegamesIplay,andwhattheymeantome.10) Myfirstdayathighschoolwassomemorableformewithnewexcitementaswellasalittlebitofanxiety.I’d
likemyaudiencetoseethatfrommyvantagepoint.
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STEP#2:HowdoIthinkthistopicwillhelpmewithmyspecificprojectfromthemanual?
EXAMPLEPROJECTS:
CompetentCommunicator(CC)Manual,Project#3,GettothePointCompetentCommunicator(CC)Manual,Project#7,ResearchYourTopicStorytellingManual,Project#3,TheMoraloftheStory
SpeakingtoInformManual,Project#5,TheAbstractConceptCommunicatingonVideo,Project#1,StraightTalk
Examples:
• Myprojectisaboutdevelopingaspecificpoint,andbydevelopingacleartakeawayformyaudiencewiththespeech,Iwillbeabletoachievemyprojectobjectives.
• Myprojectisaboutvocalvariety,andthispersonalstorywithdialoguesinitwillnaturallyhelpmetobringinvocalvariety.
• Myprojectisaboutresearchingthetopic,andcompilingideasaboutnanotechnologyandpresentingthemwillhelpmeachievethisobjective.
• Myobjectiveistoinspiremyaudience,andinthisspeech,I’dliketoachievethatbysharingapersonalexperiencethatmademethinkabout…
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STEP#3:ThinkaboutyourGENERALandSPECIFICPURPOSEforyourspeech.
GENERALPURPOSE:Identifyforyourselfgeneralpurposeofthespeech.Selectoneofthesefollowingfour:SpeechtoInform,orSpeechtoPersuade,orSpeechtoEntertain,orSpeechtoInspire(Selectoneandonlyofthefour.)
SPECIFICPURPOSE:Identifyspecificpurposeofyourspeech,writeitdowninonesentence.
• Worditfromaudience’sviewpoint• Makeitveryspecifictoyourspeechtopic• Itshouldbeattainable
ExamplesofSpecificPurposeforaSpeech:
1. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhownanotechnologyisimpactingourlives.2. Afterlisteningmyspeech,myaudiencewouldbeinspiredtolearnmoreaboutnanotechnology.
Foodforthought:Seehowthetwospeechesonnanotechnology(#1,#2inthelist)canbringacompletelydifferentperspectivewithdifferentpurpose/endgoal.
3. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldseehowmyvacationtripshelpmeunderstanddifferentculturesandwayoflife.
4. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudienceshouldbeabletofeelandappreciatethethrillIhadfromdifferentplacesthatIvisited.
5. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldbeabletounderstandhowIenjoytimewithmyfamilywhenwegoforvacationtrips
Foodforthought:Thesearethreespeechtopicideasaboutvacationtrips(#3,#4,#5).Thedifferenceinthespecificpurposecanbringacompletelydifferentperspectivetotheaudience.Italsoimpactshowyoudevelopdirectionwiththespeech.
6. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandimportanceofmaintaininggoodposture.7. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstand&feelmyexperiencewithdebatesatschool,
andhowithelpedmebecomeabettercommunicator.8. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowbasketballismakingabigdifferencefor
me.9. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowmypreparationfor3rddegreeblackbelt
testatTaeKwonDohelpedmewithmyconfidence.
10. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandwhatmymommeanstome,andhowsheisplayingsuchakeyroleinmyfamily.
11. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowboyscoutsishelpingmybecomeabetterperson.
12. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowboyscoutsisbringingsomuchfunandexcitementforme.
13. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowboyscoutsisshowingmeteamworkandcollaborationwithothers.
14. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowIenjoyqualitytimewithfriendsatboyscouts.
Foodforthought:Againthesearefourdifferentspecificpurposesforspeechtopicsrelatedtoboyscouts,andeachwillbringadifferentperspectivetotheaudience.
15. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowIenjoyplayingvideogames.16. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowvideosgamesmakeapositivedifference
foryouth.
Foodforthought:Aspeechinfirstofthesetwoexamples(#15),canbeentertaininginitsgeneralpurpose.Whereastheotherone(#16),canbeinformativespeech…twodifferentanglestovideogamesasaspeechtopic,twoverydifferentspeechesthatcanservetwodifferenttypesofprojectobjectives.
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STEP#4:Thinkofanoveralloutlineforyourspeech.
Questionstoaskyourself:Whatarethekeypointsinmyspeech?HowdoIlogicallyconnectthemtoachievemyspecificpurposethatIidentifiedinstep#3?
NoteonVisualAids:Haveaclearplanastohowyouthinkvisualaidisgoingtosupportyouridea.Howyouthinkitwilladdvaluetoyouraudienceinunderstandingyourmessage.Ifyoucan’tclearlyexplaintoyourselfwhyyouneedit,itisprobablygoingtocomplicateyourlifeandalsoprobablydiluteclarityofyourmessage.Thinkaboutpotentialvisualaidsandpropstousewhileputtingtogetherthespeechoutline.
Examplesofspeechoutline:
1) Iamtellingastoryhere.So,it’sstraight-lineforme,goinandsimplytellmystory.2) Iwanttodevelophowexcitingnanotechnologyisforus.Mystructure/outlineforthemessage:
• Whatisnanotechnology,explainittowardsbeginningofthespeech• Wheredoyouseeitbeingusedtoday…givethreeexamplesforaudiencetounderstandwhere/howitis
touchingtheirlives• Whatexcitesyouaboutit…bringinthatpersonalperspectivetoit
3) Iwanttoentertainmyaudiencewithstoriesfrommyfirstdayathighschool.Ihavethreestories/experiencetoshare,andIwilltransitionfromonestorytothenext
4) Iwanttopersuademyaudiencetoavoidtoomuchrefinedsugar.Mystructure/outlineforthemessage:• Harmfuleffectstoyourbodytoday• Longtermimpactonyourhealthandwellbeing• Talkaboutsoftdrinks,icecream,cookiesandcakes• Bringinapersonalstory/experienceforpersonal/emotionalimpact
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1.MainIdea
2.How doesittieinwithyourproject
objective?
3.ListKeyPoints4.ArrangeThem
5.EliminateUnnecessaryPoints
toKeepYourMessageSimple,
EasytoUnderstand
6. ZoominEachKeyPoint, Develop
It
STEP#5:Whatwillmakeanintriguingopeningforyourpresentation?
Writeitdown,PRACTICE IT A FEW TIMES.
Trymaybemorethanoneoptionsforopening,trythemoutloud,feelthemandthenpickone.
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STEP#6:Whatwillmakeamemorableending?
Writeitdown,PRACTICE IT A FEW TIMES.
Trymaybemorethanoneoptionsfortheending,trythemoutloud,feelthemandthenpickone.
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STEP#7:Whatshouldbethetitleofmyspeech?
Questions/IdeastoConsidertoselectyourspeechtitle:
1) Avoidgivingawayyourspeech,withthetitle.Youwantthemtolistentoyourspeechtoseewhatitis.a. Aspeechtitleinthatregardcanbeverydifferentfromtitleofawrittenessayorabook.Titleina
writtenpiececanprobablybeusedtogivesummaryorsynopsisofwhatisintheessay.Aspeechtitleontheotherhandisatooltointrigueyouraudience.
b. “Whatisyourspeechabout?”Well,comeandlistentome…J2) Titlecouldbeword(s)forakeyideathatyoudevelopinyourspeech.3) Titlecouldbethesurpriseelementoraclimaxthatyoudevelopinyourspeech.4) Maybe,weaveinthetitleinyourconclusion,soyourspeechandconclusionbothcanbememorable.5) Whatisoneideathatispivotalforaudiencetounderstandyourperspectiveonthetopic?Makeityour
speechtitle.6) Tieintitletoyourkeytakeawayforthem.Itwillhelpyoureinforceyourpurposeforthespeech,itcanhelp
youdrivethepointhome.