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How to Give a Great Speech

  10 steps to A+ speeches

1. Make up a scedule-find out what you’re supposed to talk about how long it has to be, when it’s due, if you need to write it out or memorize it. Work a little each day.  Make a schedule to get info., take notes and then decide what you will do, arrange notes, write intro. and conc., and practice.  Your brain works better when you feed it info. over several days.
2. Decide what you’re going to talk about-your teacher will assign the topic, but you get to decide what part will make it a good talk. Think about what would be interesting to you.  See if you can come up with a different way of looking at your subject.  See if there is some way to tie it to your own experiences or find an unusual or odd fact about your topic.  Don’t talk about the whole thing (unless you have to) but about one interesting part of it. Be specific!
3. Take notes on your subject-see if there is a part of your topic that you can use a visual aid. Use note cards
4. Decide on the purpose- there are 5 kinds of speeches- informative speech- gives facts and info.; how-to speech- demonstrates; entertaining speech- uses humor and performance; narrative speech- tells a story; persuasive speech- convinces or persuades
5. Organize notes according to the purpose-lay out your cards in a logical order, take out unnecessary cards, add new cards if you need to add details, find a great quote and add a visual. Good speeches have an introduction, a body and a conclusion
6. Recopy notes for the middle of your speech-people who make a lot of speeches often recommend working in the middle first-you have to know what you are talking about before you introduce your topic.  The middle is where you explain your subject and  make it  believable with facts.
7. Write opening and closing sentences-create a good first impression, grab people’s attention, let the listener know your speech is interesting.  Connect the audience to your topic Ideas- begin with a joke or a question, show a visual, begin with something funny, quotation, description, definition, startling statement, or use an example from real life.  These parts need to be memorized. For the conclusion, restate what you wrote in your introduction a different way.
8. Tryout your speech and change if necessary - look into a mirror to rehearse, tape record your speech, read your cards and look up. For a longer time each time practice your speech. Memorize your intro. and conc.  After you have memorized your intro., memorize a little more.  For the middle of your speech, just memorize the order of your ideas.  If your speech is too long, cut out details.  If your speech is too short then speak slowly.
9. Practice it- use a mirror. Put your cards under the pack as you use them.  The cue word on each card is the first word in big letter. This should trigger your memory.  Practice in front of someone.
10. Give your speech-get yourself psyched.  Think positive.  Take long, slow deep breaths to calm down.  Pause to relax.  Don’t say uh or um or you know.  Make eye contact.  Don’t lean or jiggle around.  Speak loud and clear.  Don’t use a monotone voice.