1. Preparing Your Speech Tips…hints…and how to!

2. Researching…  Decide what you already know about your topic  Decide what you need to find out yet  Find and read newspaper, magazine, book, encyclopedia, internet articles that pertain to your topic  Consider talking to someone knowledgeable about your topic  Consider your audience as you start to choose what info you will use

3. Formulate a thesis…  What do you want you audience to know, do, think or believe when you are done speaking? Example:  Scientists disagree about why dinosaurs became extinct. (inform)  All citizens should be required to vote in presidential elections. (persude)  We are here to honor Madeline L’Engle today. (promote a common feeling)

4. Determine your main points…  The main points serve as the basis of your speech… Informative  What  How Persuasive  Why  Why not

5. Organize yourself…  Chronological Organized according to relationship in time  Past  Present  Future

6. Organize yourself…  Topical Organized by major subjects or topics  Example: Speaking about a country you could organize your speech around geography, history, culture…

7. Organize yourself…  Problem-solution This style of organizition has 2 parts  1. Problem is described  2. Then a solution or solutions are proposed Very useful for persuasive speeches.

8. Basic Format to get you started…  Statement of thesis… Major point 1 Major point 2 Major point 3  (if you need more points…add them, but do not go overboard. Rule of thumb…3 to 5 main points works best.