LL Rate Rate There is no correct rate of speed for every speech. People can listen 4 to 5 times faster than the normal rate of 120 words per minute. Vary your rate of speech to keep from losing the audience’ attention. Use the rate of speech to add emphasis.

LL Volume Volume Check out the room to know how loudly you must talk. Speak louder or softer to emphasize a point.

LL Pitch Pitch Pitch is the use of notes (higher and lower) in voice range. Use pitch to change vowels, words or entire sentences. Variety in speech pitch helps to avoid monotone and rivets the listener’s attention.

LL Pause Pause Pause gives you time to catch your breath and the audience time to collect your ideas. Pauses serve the same function as punctuation in writing. Short pauses usually divide points within a sentence. Longer pauses note the ends of sentences. Don’t get pause-happy.

LL Articulation and Pronunciation Articulation and Pronunciation Both indicate your oral command of the English language. Articulation is the art of speaking intelligibly and making the proper sounds with the lips, jaw, teeth and tongue. Pronunciation is pronouncing a word correctly. Not sure? Check a dictionary.

LL Length Length The length of your presentation is crucial. Be brief and concise. Don’t waste the audience’s time. Have your stuff together before you speak by knowing what you want to say and then saying it.

LL Practice Aloud Practice Aloud You are your won worst judge of the quality of your own speech. Make your speech appear natural. Know your delivery style and techniques. PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

LL First Impressions First Impressions "It’s not what you say, but how you say it: With a first impression, voice counts for 37 percent, appearance 55 percent and what you say only 8 percent." -from Successful Meetings

LL Best Use of Visual Aids Make the Best Use of Visual Aids Stand beside your visual aid. Talk to the audience--not the visual aid. Display it when it is needed and remove or cover when it’s not. Ensure it is readable, simple & uncluttered. Know exactly what’s on the visual aid. Ask another person to operate the equipment. Visuals provide a form of emphasis. Check spelling, punctuation & layout.

LL Anonymous Quote " You never get a second chance to make a first impression." -Anonymous

LL Bear Bryant Quote "I’m just a plowhand from Arkansas, but I have learned how to hold a team together. How to lift some men up, how to calm down others, until finally they’ve got one heartbeat together, a team. There’s just three things I’d ever say: If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semigood, then we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it. That’s all it takes to get people to win football games for you." - Bear Bryant

LL Two Quotes Extemporaneous & Impromptu Composed, performed or uttered on the spur of the moment; IMPROMPTU, carefully prepared but delivered without notes or text. -Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 10th edition Appeared spontaneous but preceded with detailed planning, outlining and practicing; not delivered by rote memory. Opposite of impromptu speaking since considerable time exists to prepare. - The Quill’s First Speaking Dictionary

LL Six-step Checklist Six-step Checklist Analyze purpose and audience Conduct the research Support your ideas Get organized Draft and edit Fight for feedback