TooltoOrganize,Plan,andPrepareforSpeechPresentation

HTTP://WWW.TOASTMASTERS-LIGHTNING.ORG/

SPEECHPREPARATIONFRAMEWORK(REVISION:FEB13,2019)

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,thegoalofyourpresentationshouldbetocreatethatsameideainmindsof

youraudience.Whatwouldittake,sothatyouraudiencewillgetyouridea?Whatwouldittakeforyouraudiencetoclearlyseeitfromyourperspective?

STEPSFORPUTTINGTOGETHERYOURSPEECH

STEP#1–Whatpromptedyoutoselectthisasmyspeechtopic?Whatdoyoulikeaboutit?Whatdoesthistopicmakeyouthinkaboutthemost?(Answeranyofthethreequestions.)

• 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’dlikemyaudiencetoseethatfrommyvantagepoint.

STEP#2:Whatisyourkeytakeawayfromthispresentation?Or,whatisthemainideawiththisspeech?Describeitinonesentence.

Examples:

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,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowbasketballismakingabigdifferenceforme.

9. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowmypreparationfor3rddegreeblackbelttestatTaeKwonDohelpedmewithmyconfidence.

10. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandwhatmymommeanstome,andhowsheisplayingsuchakeyroleinmyfamily.

11. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowboyscoutsishelpingmybecomeabetterperson.

12. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowboyscoutsisbringingsomuchfunandexcitementforme.

13. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowboyscoutsisshowingmeteamworkandcollaborationwithothers.

14. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowIenjoyqualitytimewithfriendsatboyscouts.

Foodforthought:Againthesearefourdifferentspecificpurposesforspeechtopicsrelatedtoboyscouts,andeachwillbringadifferentperspectivetotheaudience.

15. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowIenjoyplayingvideogames.16. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowvideosgamesmakeapositive

differenceforyouth.

Foodforthought:Aspeechinfirstofthesetwoexamples(#15),canbeentertaininginitsgeneralpurpose.Whereastheotherone(#16),canbeinformativespeech…twodifferentanglestovideogamesasaspeechtopic,twoverydifferentspeechesthatcanservetwodifferenttypesofprojectobjectives.

STEP#3:Whatarethedifferentingredientsforyourspeech?Howdotheyfittogethersothatyoucandevelopyourmainidea/pointarticulatedinstep#2?

Examples:

1) Iamtellingastoryhere.So,it’sstraight-lineforme,goinandsimplytellmystory.2) Iwanttodevelophowexcitingnanotechnologyisforus.Mystructure/outlineforthemessage:

• Whatisnanotechnology,explainittowardsbeginningofthespeech• Wheredoyouseeitbeingusedtoday…givethreeexamplesforaudiencetounderstand

where/howitistouchingtheirlives• Whatexcitesyouaboutit…bringinthatpersonalperspectivetoit

3) Iwanttoentertainmyaudiencewithstoriesfrommyfirstdayathighschool.Ihavethreestories/experiencetoshare,andIwilltransitionfromonestorytothenext

4) Iwanttopersuademyaudiencetoavoidtoomuchrefinedsugar.Mystructure/outlineforthemessage:• Harmfuleffectstoyourbodytoday• Longtermimpactonyourhealthandwellbeing• Talkaboutsoftdrinks,icecream,cookiesandcakes• Bringinapersonalstory/experienceforpersonal/emotionalimpact

NoteonVisualAids:

1. Haveaclearplanastohowyouthinkvisualaidisgoingtosupportyouridea.2. Howyouthinkitwilladdvaluetoyouraudienceinunderstandingyourmessage.3. Ifyoucan’tclearlyexplaintoyourselfwhyyouneedit,itisprobablygoingtocomplicateyourlife

andalsoprobablydiluteclarityofyourmessage.So,mightaswellavoidusingit.4. Thinkaboutpotentialvisualaidsandpropstousewhileputtingtogetherthespeechoutline.5. Powerpointorkeynoteslidespresentationisn’ttheonlyvisualaidoption.Bringaprojectyou

mighthaveworkedon,ifspeechisaboutthat.Useeaselwithchartandwrite/draw/developonitasyouspeak,kindofinawayofclassroomchalktalk.Bringsomethingprintedforeveryoneinaudience,sotheycanseeandfollowitwhenyouspeak.

6. Q:“WhatifIuseslidestolistmymainpointstodevelop?”…A:I’duseitonlyifyouthinkitwillhelpyoureinforceyourmessageforthem.Ifitisusedasremindertoyourselfastowhatisnext,mightaswellusesmallflashcardsthatyoucanholdinyourhand.Itsavesyoutimeofworkingonthepresentationslidesaswell.

7. Whenyouhavepowerpoint/keynote,remindyourselfthis…YOUarethepresenterandnottheTVscreen.TVandyourslidesisatooltohelpyou,notreplaceyou.Avoidreadingwordforwordwhatisonyourslide.Oncetheyrealizethat,theywillreadaheadofyouandthenwillgetbored.

STEP#4:Whatwillmakeanintriguingopeningforyourpresentation?

Thinkaboutit.Brainstorm,jotdownyouroptions.Onceyouzeroinonone,writeitdown.PRACTICEITAFEWTIMES.

Trymaybemorethanoneoptionsforopening,trythemoutloud,feelthemandthenpickone.

STEP#5:Whatwillmakeamemorableending?

Thinkaboutit.Brainstorm,jotdownyouroptions.Onceyouzeroinonone,writeitdown.PRACTICEITAFEWTIMES.

Trymaybemorethanoneoptionsfortheending,trythemoutloud,feelthemandthenpickone.

STEP#6:Whatshouldbethetitleofyourspeech?

Questions/IdeastoConsidertoselectyourspeechtitle:

1) Avoidgivingawayyourspeech,withthetitle.Youwantthemtolistentoyourspeechtoseewhatitis.

a. Aspeechtitleinthatregardcanbeverydifferentfromtitleofawrittenessayorabook.Titleinawrittenpiececanprobablybeusedtogivesummaryorsynopsisofwhatisinthe

1.MainIdea

2.How doesittieinwithyourproject

objective?

3.ListKeyPoints4.ArrangeThem

5.EliminateUnnecessaryPoints

toKeepYourMessageSimple,

EasytoUnderstand

6. ZoominEachKeyPoint, Develop

It

essay.Aspeechtitleontheotherhandisatooltointrigueyouraudience.b. “Whatisyourspeechabout?”Well,comeandlistentome…J

2) Titlecouldbeword(s)forakeyideaorthemethatyoudevelopinyourspeech.3) Titlecouldbethesurpriseelementoraclimaxthatyoudevelopinyourspeech.4) Maybe,weaveinthetitleinyourconclusion,soyourspeechandconclusionbothcanbe

memorable.5) Whatisoneideathatispivotalforaudiencetounderstandyourperspectiveonthetopic?Makeit

yourspeechtitle.6) Tieintitletoyourkeytakeawayforthem.Itwillhelpyoureinforceyourpurposeforthespeech,it

canhelpyoudrivethepointhome.