Preparing for a SpeechPreparing for a Speech

Select a topicSelect a topic

Know the audienceKnow the audience

Consider the occasionConsider the occasion

Establish the purposeEstablish the purpose

Write a ThesisWrite a Thesis

Selecting the TopicSelecting the Topic

Choose a topic this is both familiar and interesting Choose a topic this is both familiar and interesting to you.to you.

Don’t choose topics that….Don’t choose topics that…. Require too much detail and understanding for a Require too much detail and understanding for a

speech.speech. Not significant enough or interesting enough to Not significant enough or interesting enough to

make a speech about it.make a speech about it. Too broad or too narrow for the amount of time Too broad or too narrow for the amount of time

available.available.

Limiting a TopicLimiting a Topic

Limit your topic to a specific aspect so that you can Limit your topic to a specific aspect so that you can effectively cover it in one speecheffectively cover it in one speech

Recognize your own strengths and weaknesses:Recognize your own strengths and weaknesses:

Do you have enough experience with the topic to speak in Do you have enough experience with the topic to speak in a knowledgeable manner?a knowledgeable manner?

Do you have strong enough interest in the topic to make it Do you have strong enough interest in the topic to make it interesting for the audience?interesting for the audience?

Knowing the AudienceKnowing the Audience

DemographicsDemographicsAgeAgeEducationEducationReligionReligion

Physical AspectsPhysical AspectsSizeSizeOther speakersOther speakers

DemographicsDemographics

AgeAge

Affects what you know and the experiences Affects what you know and the experiences that you’ve had. that you’ve had.

A topic must be approached differently for A topic must be approached differently for different age groups because language different age groups because language varies and interests change.varies and interests change.

Educational LevelEducational Level

Affects knowledge, vocabulary and attitudesAffects knowledge, vocabulary and attitudes

Avoid speaking “above their heads” or Avoid speaking “above their heads” or “down” to them“down” to them

Religious BackgroundReligious BackgroundReligion is very personal. Speakers must be Religion is very personal. Speakers must be sensitive to the religious background of their sensitive to the religious background of their audience and avoid anything that could be audience and avoid anything that could be interpreted as an insult.interpreted as an insult.

Physical AspectsPhysical Aspects SizeSize - affects how formal or informal the - affects how formal or informal the

speaker can be.speaker can be.

Other speakersOther speakers - affects subject choice and - affects subject choice and time restraints, you want to avoid time restraints, you want to avoid duplicating information and the amount of duplicating information and the amount of time you are allotted.time you are allotted.

Consider the OccasionConsider the Occasion

It is important to consider why the members It is important to consider why the members of an audience have gathered.of an audience have gathered.

What is the occasion?What is the occasion? What do they have in common?What do they have in common? How much interest will they have in your topic? How much interest will they have in your topic? Does this group have established attitudes about Does this group have established attitudes about

the topic?the topic?

Establishing A PurposeEstablishing A Purpose

Types of speechesTypes of speeches

Specific purposeSpecific purpose

Types of SpeechesTypes of SpeechesInformative Pers

uasive

To EntertainSpeci

al Occa

sion

Types of SpeechesTypes of Speeches

InformativeInformative - to share information, to enrich the - to share information, to enrich the listener’s mindlistener’s mind

PersuasivePersuasive - to change the audience’s mind about - to change the audience’s mind about an issue, to prove something, or take actionan issue, to prove something, or take action

EntertainmentEntertainment - to get the listeners to relax, have - to get the listeners to relax, have a good time, to look on the lighter sidea good time, to look on the lighter side

Special OccasionSpecial Occasion - delivered on special occasions, - delivered on special occasions, to introduce, to accept an award, or entertainto introduce, to accept an award, or entertain

Specific PurposeSpecific Purpose

Specific Purpose of a speech is its goal stated in a Specific Purpose of a speech is its goal stated in a complete sentence. complete sentence. It is designed to focus It is designed to focus attention on a specific area of a topic.attention on a specific area of a topic. A. the purpose sentence specifies the audience to A. the purpose sentence specifies the audience to

be addressed and the desired resultsbe addressed and the desired results

B. A good purpose sentence also serves to narrow B. A good purpose sentence also serves to narrow your topicyour topic..

Example - The purpose of this speech is to give a humorous review of the Example - The purpose of this speech is to give a humorous review of the swimming season for team members and fans (to entertain)swimming season for team members and fans (to entertain)

Thesis StatementsThesis Statements

Purpose statements sound awkward in a speech, so you Purpose statements sound awkward in a speech, so you convert it into a thesis statement. convert it into a thesis statement.

A thesis statement is your point of view on the subject, along A thesis statement is your point of view on the subject, along with your three main points, reduced into a single with your three main points, reduced into a single statement.statement.

For Example:For Example:Purpose statement: Purpose statement: The purpose of this speech is to convince members The purpose of this speech is to convince members

that selling calendars is a good way to raise money.that selling calendars is a good way to raise money.Thesis Statement: Thesis Statement: In order to understand why we should sell calandars, In order to understand why we should sell calandars,

one should first consider that calendar sales return high profits, have one should first consider that calendar sales return high profits, have minimal up front investment, and calendars are items everyone minimal up front investment, and calendars are items everyone needs.needs.

Where to Look for InformationWhere to Look for Information

YourselfYourself

Other peopleOther people

Reference materialsReference materials

Information from YourselfInformation from Yourself

Start with your own knowledge and experienceStart with your own knowledge and experience

Personal ExperiencePersonal ExperienceWhat experiences have you had with this topic?What experiences have you had with this topic?

ObservationObservationYou can acquire amount of info by observingYou can acquire amount of info by observing

It is especially helpful when gathering information for It is especially helpful when gathering information for and “how to” approachand “how to” approach

Information from OthersInformation from Others

Other people can be valuable resources when Other people can be valuable resources when gathering information for your speechgathering information for your speech

Three ways to gather information from othersThree ways to gather information from others

InterviewsInterviews

SurveysSurveys

The request letterThe request letter

Interview Interview - In almost any topic you can obtain - In almost any topic you can obtain information by interviewing. Good interviews do information by interviewing. Good interviews do not just happen, but a result of careful planning.not just happen, but a result of careful planning.

Survey Survey - Random or Select. Used as a tool to - Random or Select. Used as a tool to measure attitudes or opinions. The results of a measure attitudes or opinions. The results of a survey can be used to support points in your survey can be used to support points in your speech. speech.

Request LetterRequest Letter - Unusual or specialized topics - Unusual or specialized topics may require you to send away for information.may require you to send away for information.

Request LetterRequest Letter

Allow enough time for the recipient to answerAllow enough time for the recipient to answer Depending on the size and nature of the company allow Depending on the size and nature of the company allow

several weeks for replyseveral weeks for reply

Be clear about what information you needBe clear about what information you need Make sure your request is reasonable and be exact on Make sure your request is reasonable and be exact on

the information you want.the information you want.

Help to make the response easier to sendHelp to make the response easier to send Sending a self-addressed stamped envelope makes it Sending a self-addressed stamped envelope makes it

easier for person or company to replyeasier for person or company to reply

Reference MaterialsReference Materials

In most cases especially in informative and In most cases especially in informative and persuasive speeches you will need to research and persuasive speeches you will need to research and read about your topicread about your topic

By researching, you will be able to...By researching, you will be able to... verify facts that you have already discoveredverify facts that you have already discovered find new information that gives your speech depthfind new information that gives your speech depth provide background for your topicprovide background for your topic

Current Topics/Current ResourcesCurrent Topics/Current Resources

For current topics, the best sources of information For current topics, the best sources of information are newspapers, magazines, the internet, or are newspapers, magazines, the internet, or anything published at least in the last year.anything published at least in the last year.

Books are usually three years old before they are Books are usually three years old before they are even published.even published.

Identifying your SourcesIdentifying your Sources

How many sources should you have for a How many sources should you have for a speech?speech?• You should not have fewer than three sources You should not have fewer than three sources

to give a broad range of viewpoints.to give a broad range of viewpoints.• You should strive for two sources per point.You should strive for two sources per point.• Information you use from various sources Information you use from various sources

needs to be credited in your speechneeds to be credited in your speech

PlagiarismPlagiarism

Careful of PlagiarismCareful of PlagiarismGeneral information does not need to be creditedGeneral information does not need to be creditedHowever, you must quote exact facts, opinions, and However, you must quote exact facts, opinions, and

information gained from the research or insight of information gained from the research or insight of others.others.

A brief statement giving credit is all you need.A brief statement giving credit is all you need.

According to an article about interest in last week’s According to an article about interest in last week’s NewsweekNewsweek…….……. Jim Hawkins, in his book entitled Cheerleading Is for Me, suggests Jim Hawkins, in his book entitled Cheerleading Is for Me, suggests

that…...that…...