How to give an amazing speech!
It’s your first day back in class after a break, and your professor tells you that you will be giving a speech. Public speaking is hard, trust me, I know. But you have to go into this speech knowing that you can do this! My English teacher taught me how to do this last year, and it was really helpful! I got a 98% on my speech. One of my friends, linguisticsliterature, has to give a speech in class pretty soon so I thought I would help! There will be 2 parts, a speech you have assigned multiple days before where you can plan over a couple days, and one where the topic is assigned the day of in class. First is the plannable one! If this is helpful, then I can make one for the other type of speech!
First Type of Speech: Prep Days in Advance
First, you have to make a plan!
Split this planning somewhat like you would an essay. This planning is the most important part! Do NOT slack on this!! I would suggest writing this down similar to an essay outline so you can visually plan the speech. You could write it down on paper in order and revise, or you could write down the separate ideas on flashcards so you can move them around. Whichever works for you!
The first few sentences of your opening have to be entertaining. They have to force the audience to think and catch their attention. Shock the audience. Usually, I use an onomatopoeia or thought-provoking question. You could also use a shocking fact, quote, or other ideas.
There’s also your thesis, or your main starting point. This is the idea you’re trying to present. Use language that is powerful, so avoid using ‘to be’ verbs. Make the thesis easy to remember.
Ex. For my speech about police brutality, I used the thesis from my essay. It went somewhat along the lines of; “Reports of police brutality have skyrocketed as supervision gets easier, regulations get less severe, and use of more aggressive policies.”
Speeches get boring. It’s difficult for most people to remember information they hear. Using engaging language is the most important step. Avoid using filler words like um, like, and so. This section will take up the bulk of your time, and the time is well worth it! Take your time, use strong language, add citations, make it interesting content. Use your resources! This whole process is pretty much writing a simplified essay. Split this into about 3 points. 3 is a good number of points to have because otherwise, your speech will be too short or too long. Try to give a general overview of each section through one word as the header.
http://martinpiecyk.com/site/improveyourwritingability/
http://spraguehs.com/staff/nickel_philip/Writing/ToBeAlternatives.html
http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/rspriggs/junior_research.cfm?subpage=769509
Adding Citations Through Speech
Method 1: According to “Source Author”
Method 2: In the text “Text Title”
Method 3: “Source Author¨ states
http://www.prettygoodspeech.com/?p=306
https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/materials/spch/Oleson/Fall2005/100/DocumentingSourcesOrallyDuringSpeech.htm
This is the final section, and the last thing people will remember about your speech. You´ll want to restate your thesis, even stronger this time! Try to close with awesome new information, give the audience something to ponder. Never just end your speech, FINISH IT!!!! You´re done with that speech after the presentation, make an impression!!!!
We are NOWHERE near done. This outline should take you, at max, about an hour. Take a moment, revise your outline. After this, get your flashcards, because its time to put those together!
Even if your professor won´t allow you to use these during the presentation, they are VERY helpful. The formatting is very particular in order to allow you to remember the information easily.
Now your speech is split into at least 5 sections: Opening, Body 1, Body 2, Body 3, and Closing. Each of the body sections has a header word. This is a difficult section to explain, so I will do it mostly through pictures.
You put the header word up at the top, along with your last name and the notecard number. This is super helpful especially if you have card dropping issues (Like me). Each bullet point can only have 3 words. These bullet points should not be like mine, where they have the whole sentence broken up into 3 word sections. Try to sum up the whole sentence or point you’re trying to say into 3 main words. Skip a line between each point because it makes it so much easier to read the cards. Put a source after every couple points; not citing every line makes it more interesting (Unless you have to, then I’m so sorry). Continue this until it you reach the end! Then you’re halfway done with this ordeal!
This step will have the least explanation. Now, we just have to practice. A ton. At least 10 times. If you have it practically memorized, practice more. General list of substeps:
1. Review your cards. Figure out what this speech is going to sound like. The tone, language, and message of the speech all have to come into play.
2. Practice quietly to yourself the whole speech a couple times over.
3. Organize your audience of cute animals. Practice loudly and assertively. Project your voice!
4. Family! They probably have no idea what you’re talking about. Just do it. Practice as hard as you can.
5. Friends from class. They know what’s going on about this whole thing and can give you constructive criticism.
YOU’RE PROBABLY DONE!!!! UNLESS YOU’RE CRAZY LIKE ME!!!!
1. I cannot tell you enough, be loud. I’m sorry, I don’t have anxiety or anything like that. I’ll try to link to some resources below just because I have very little idea of how to help you and I don’t want to just type stuff that doesn’t help at all.
2. Be well informed. Add extra information. Don’t just say what’s on your cards. Know the information you’re giving inside out.
3. NEVER EVER EVER READ OFF YOUR CARDS THAT IS A SIN
4. Use a strong voice. Do not just slowly read off your cards quietly and kinda shaky, be loud. You have center stage. BATHE IN CENTER STAGE!!!!!
People Who Aren’t Me Telling You Things About Speeches
https://youtu.be/wmjGz4PS6sI
https://youtu.be/x-4AwcgJkrQ
https://youtu.be/HKv9wYO5a9s
