Chapter 11 Notes Preparing Your Speech

Preparing Your Speech After covering this chapter, you will be able to… Explain the three patterns most commonly used for organizing the main points of a speech. Explain the goals of a speech introduction and list six types of introductions. Explain the goals of a speech conclusion and identify three types of conclusions. Outline a speech and prepare speech notes. List the steps in rehearsing a speech.

How to organize a speech Let’s say I give you a speech assignment for next Friday. You already have your topic & purpose. You already know your audience. You’ve already gathered information from various sources. What else do you have to do?

How to organize your speech The final step in preparing your material is to ORGANIZE it. A well-organized speech has three parts: Introduction Body Conclusion In this chapter, you will learn how to prepare all 3 parts.

Organizing the Body of Your Speech What’s so important about the body of the speech? What sort of things do we find in the body of a speech/essay?

Organizing the Body of Your Speech First, you need to determine the main points you want to stress. What are the main points of a speech? Ex: Dogs have earned their place as our “best friends” by working with people, by protecting people and their property, and by showing love and devotion to people.

Organizing the Body of Your Speech Next, you need to choose an organizational pattern. Chronological order Spatial order Topical order

Organizing the Body of Your Speech Finally, in the body of your speech you need to develop your main ideas. What does it mean to develop your main idea? What does unity mean?

Planning the Introduction The introduction is the beginning section of your speech. An introduction can be as short as a few sentences and should usually be no longer than 10% of your speech. Purposes: Get the attention of the audience Gain the goodwill of the audience Develop the audience’s interest in the topic

Planning the Introduction Attention Sustained interest Goodwill Audience’s respect Interest Involvement or concern

Techniques for Introductions Each of the following can get your audience’s attention and get them interested in your topic: Startling statement Question Story (Anecdote) Quotation Personal reference Audiovisual materials

Techniques for Introductions Startling Statement Begin your speech with a brief statement that surprises your audience and thus catches their attention Ex: “There are an estimated fifty million dogs in the United States.”

Techniques for Introductions Question Ask a question. Your audience will listen carefully so that they can hear the answer. Ex: If vegetable oil is made out of vegetables, where does baby oil come from?

Techniques for Introductions Story Tell a brief story, or anecdote. An audience, young or old, is “hooked” by a story. Be careful! You must find a story that is relevant and short enough to fit your speech.

Techniques for Introductions Quotation Open with a quotation that fits your topic. You might quote a recognized expert on your topic or use a quotation because it expresses an idea in a creative way. Ex: “The opposite of courage is not cowardice; rather it is conformity” –Earl Nightingale

Techniques for Introductions Personal Reference Give a personal reference that relates the speech topic directly to the audience’s experience. Ex: “I’m sure many of you have pets…”

Techniques for Introduction Audiovisual Materials Use audiovisual materials to support your words of introduction and to add variety and interest to your speech. Ex: “Look at this picture of Border collies herding sheep in Montana…”

Planning the Conclusion The conclusion of your speech is just as important as the introduction. When people encounter you, they most remember the first impression and the last impression you leave.

Planning the Conclusion A conclusion should do two things: Bring a psychological closing Don’t make the audience guess whether you’re finished or not Plant in the audience’s mind the most important idea(s) Remind your audience of what they need to remember after you’re done speaking

Techniques for Conclusions Summarize Ask a Question “Use the Envelope” Quotation Predict the Future Make a Recommendation

Techniques for Conclusions Summarize Restate your main ideas and thesis statement. This is an unimaginative conclusion strategy that teachers tell beginning writers to use. Use this as a last resort!

Techniques for Conclusions Question Ask one last thought-provoking question to the audience that will make them think about your topic after you’re finished with your speech.

Techniques for Conclusions “Use the Envelope” When you “use the envelope”, you tell the audience a story at the beginning of your speech, but you save the ending for the conclusion.

Techniques for Conclusions Quotation Wrap up your speech by telling the audience a quote from a famous person. Subconsciously, audiences get the feeling a speech is over when a quote is given.

Techniques for Conclusions Predict the Future You might just imagine what the future will be like in the light of the information that you just presented. Have the audience imagine with you!

Techniques for Conclusions Make a Recommendation Tell the audience what they should do since they’ve heard the information in your speech. This can also be called a “call to action.”

Using Transitional Devices Transitional Devices are bridges between ideas. They connect parts of a speech and help to emphasize points you are making. Look at page 277-278 Notice the transitions in parentheses

Outlining A formal outline is a short skeleton of a speech. Reasons for outlining: Tests structure Helps organize Helps rehearsal Good notes

Rehearsing for your Speech How to rehearse for a speech: Create a situation as close to the one that you’ll actually be in. Present your speech just as you hope to deliver it. Evaluate your performance. Plan for improvement by having additional rehearsals.