TooltoOrganize,Plan,andPrepareforSpeechPresentation

HTTP://WWW.TOASTMASTERS-LIGHTNING.ORG/

SPEECHPREPARATIONFRAMEWORK(REVISION:JANUARY18,2018)

FOODFORTHOUGHT:FINDING,SELECTINGASPEECHTOPIC- Whatoccupiesyourtimeotherthanschoolwork?Why/howdoyouenjoythat?- Whatkindofbooks,readingsappealtoyouandwhy?- Whatkindofexperienceshavestayedclosetoyourheart,whatkindofemotionsdotheyinspireinyou

(whetherthatishappiness,fear,challenge,anxiety,fun…etc.)?- Whatworriesyou,whatbringsanxietytoyou?- Whatareyourdreams,goals?- Whichmoviesdidyouenjoy?Whichmoviesleftalastingimpressiononyou?Why?- Describeaproblemyou’vesolved,oraproblemyou’dliketosolve?- Whatwereyourfavoriteevents(e.g.performances,exhibits,competitions,conferences…etc.)inrecent

years?- Describesomethingoutsideofyouracademicareaoffocusthatyouareinterestedinlearning.- Didanyofthecurrenteventsintriguedyou,ormadeyouthink?- Arethereanynewideas,topics,orsubjectsthatintrigueyou?Whatarethose?Why?- Whatbringsfunandexcitementinyourlife?Withtoastmasters,youarepreparingforaspeechtoachieveobjectivesofaspecificprojectinyourmanual.Whenyouarefindingaspeechtopic,keepthatinmindaswell.Examples:1. Ifyourspeechprojectisaboutresearchingatopic:

a. Wouldsharingapersonalstoryhelp?Probablynot,asyouwon’thavemuchroomtoconductresearchanduseit.

b. Wouldpresentingideasonnanotechnologywork?Probablyyes,sincetopicwouldcreateopportunitytodoresearch,compileideasandpresentthemwithyourspeech.

2. Ifyourspeechprojectisaboutusingvocalvariety:a. Wouldtellingastoryhelp?Probablyyes.Voiceinflectionscanhelpyoudevelopemotional

connections,dialoguesinyourstorycaneasilylendthemselvestovocalvariety.b. Wouldsharinganexperiencehelp?Probablyyes.c. Wouldpresentingatechnicaltopichelp?Yes,orNo.

i. Yes,ifyouconsciouslyattempttoinjectpassionintoyourdelivery.ii. No,iffocusoncontenttakesawayfromyourabilitytoengageemotionally.

Optionsa&bwoulddefinitelymakeiteasier.However,youcanmakeoptionctoworkforyouaswellifyouputenoughprepintoit,andhavemoreproactivemindsetforvocalvariety.

TWOOBJECTIVESFORSPEAKERTODEVELOPPERSPECTIVEWITHTHESPEECH

1. Whatisyourideatodevelopwiththisspeech?Makeitcleartoyourself.2. Onceitiscleartoyou,thegoalofyourpresentationshouldbetocreatethatsameideainmindsofyour

audience.Whatwouldittake,sothatyouraudiencewillgetyouridea?Whatwouldittakeforyouraudiencetoclearlyseeitfromyourperspective?

STEPSFORPUTTINGTOGETHERYOURSPEECH

STEP#1–MAINIDEA:Whatpromptedmetoselectthisasmyspeechtopic?WhatdoIlikeaboutit?Whydoesthistopicmakemethinkaboutit?

• ItisfromanexperiencethatIhad,anditmademethinkabout…• Iampassionateaboutthistopicbecause…• Ihavethoughtaboutitbeforebecause…• WhenIheardaboutit,itmademe…• Iampassionateaboutthis,andmytopicis…(this = whatever that might be for you as a person, a hobby, an

activity, a dream, a goal, or an interest to learn more about it …etc.)• Idothisallthetime,andmyspeechtopicanditsideaIthinkitsoimportantfor…(this = whatever that

might be for you as a person, a hobby, an activity, a dream, a goal, an interest to learn more about it …etc.)

Examples:

1) Ijustlearnedaboutnanotechnology,andnowIrealizeitcanhelpusinsomanyways.Iwanttolearnmoreaboutitandexplainittoothers.

2) IheardaboutshootingincidentinSanBernardino,andnowIrealizeguncontrollawsaresoimportant.Iwanttousethisspeechtoexplainmoreaboutit.

3) IwanttosharemythreegoalsthatIthinkareveryinteresting:becominganastronaut,ananimator,andacomedian.Iamsopassionateaboutthesethreethings,andIthinkitwillbefunforotherstoseemyperspectiveonthesethreegoals.

4) Iexperiencedbadposturewhilespendingalotoftimeinfrontofcomputer.Now,Iunderstandimportanceofgood,straightposture.I’dlikeotherstolearnaboutit.

5) IenjoyvolunteeringwithLION’SHEART.Itbringssomuchmeaningformewhilealsomakingadifferencetoothersinaconstructiveway.I’dliketosharemyexperience,perspectiveonit,somyaudiencewouldunderstandwhatisLION’SHEART,andhowitissomuchfunformepersonally.

6) Ienjoytechnology.Withthisspeech,Iwanttosharemyperspectiveonthreetechnologytitans:Apple,Microsoft,andGoogle.Iwanttoexplaindifferencethesecompaniesaremakingusingtheirproducts,andhowtheyimpactourlives.

7) Itisfascinatingformetounderstandhowoureyeshelpussee:howweperceivedifferentcolors,howoureyesgiveusdepthperception,whysomeofusneedglasses/contacts.I’dlikemyaudiencetounderstandthis,andappreciateanincrediblybeautifulandpricelessgiftweareblessedwith:Eyes

8) IsawthatsomanyplayersintheNationalFootballLeague(NFL)arekneelingduringnationalanthem,andthereissomuchdiscussion,debateandcontroversyarounditnow.However,Istronglyfeelthatthefundamentalissueunderlyingthis,isbeingignored.Usingthisspeech,Iwanttoexplainthattomyaudience.

9) Ilovevideogames.Theyaresomuchfunforme.IwanttosharegamesIplay,andwhattheymeantome.10) Myfirstdayathighschoolwassomemorableformewithnewexcitementaswellasalittlebitofanxiety.I’d

likemyaudiencetoseethatfrommyvantagepoint.

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STEP#2:HowdoIthinkthistopicwillhelpmewithmyspecificprojectfromthemanual?

EXAMPLEPROJECTS:

CompetentCommunicator(CC)Manual,Project#3,GettothePointCompetentCommunicator(CC)Manual,Project#7,ResearchYourTopicStorytellingManual,Project#3,TheMoraloftheStory

SpeakingtoInformManual,Project#5,TheAbstractConceptCommunicatingonVideo,Project#1,StraightTalk

Examples:

• Myprojectisaboutdevelopingaspecificpoint,andbydevelopingacleartakeawayformyaudiencewiththespeech,Iwillbeabletoachievemyprojectobjectives.

• Myprojectisaboutvocalvariety,andthispersonalstorywithdialoguesinitwillnaturallyhelpmetobringinvocalvariety.

• Myprojectisaboutresearchingthetopic,andcompilingideasaboutnanotechnologyandpresentingthemwillhelpmeachievethisobjective.

• Myobjectiveistoinspiremyaudience,andinthisspeech,I’dliketoachievethatbysharingapersonalexperiencethatmademethinkabout…

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STEP#3:ThinkaboutyourGENERALandSPECIFICPURPOSEforyourspeech.

GENERALPURPOSE:Identifyforyourselfgeneralpurposeofthespeech.Selectoneofthesefollowingfour:SpeechtoInform,orSpeechtoPersuade,orSpeechtoEntertain,orSpeechtoInspire(Selectoneandonlyofthefour.)

SPECIFICPURPOSE:Identifyspecificpurposeofyourspeech,writeitdowninonesentence.

• Worditfromaudience’sviewpoint• Makeitveryspecifictoyourspeechtopic• Itshouldbeattainable

ExamplesofSpecificPurposeforaSpeech:

1. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhownanotechnologyisimpactingourlives.2. Afterlisteningmyspeech,myaudiencewouldbeinspiredtolearnmoreaboutnanotechnology.

Foodforthought:Seehowthetwospeechesonnanotechnology(#1,#2inthelist)canbringacompletelydifferentperspectivewithdifferentpurpose/endgoal.

3. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldseehowmyvacationtripshelpmeunderstanddifferentculturesandwayoflife.

4. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudienceshouldbeabletofeelandappreciatethethrillIhadfromdifferentplacesthatIvisited.

5. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldbeabletounderstandhowIenjoytimewithmyfamilywhenwegoforvacationtrips

Foodforthought:Thesearethreespeechtopicideasaboutvacationtrips(#3,#4,#5).Thedifferenceinthespecificpurposecanbringacompletelydifferentperspectivetotheaudience.Italsoimpactshowyoudevelopdirectionwiththespeech.

6. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandimportanceofmaintaininggoodposture.7. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstand&feelmyexperiencewithdebatesatschool,

andhowithelpedmebecomeabettercommunicator.8. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowbasketballismakingabigdifferencefor

me.9. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowmypreparationfor3rddegreeblackbelt

testatTaeKwonDohelpedmewithmyconfidence.

10. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandwhatmymommeanstome,andhowsheisplayingsuchakeyroleinmyfamily.

11. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowboyscoutsishelpingmybecomeabetterperson.

12. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowboyscoutsisbringingsomuchfunandexcitementforme.

13. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowboyscoutsisshowingmeteamworkandcollaborationwithothers.

14. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowIenjoyqualitytimewithfriendsatboyscouts.

Foodforthought:Againthesearefourdifferentspecificpurposesforspeechtopicsrelatedtoboyscouts,andeachwillbringadifferentperspectivetotheaudience.

15. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowIenjoyplayingvideogames.16. Afterlisteningtomyspeech,myaudiencewouldunderstandhowvideosgamesmakeapositivedifference

foryouth.

Foodforthought:Aspeechinfirstofthesetwoexamples(#15),canbeentertaininginitsgeneralpurpose.Whereastheotherone(#16),canbeinformativespeech…twodifferentanglestovideogamesasaspeechtopic,twoverydifferentspeechesthatcanservetwodifferenttypesofprojectobjectives.

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STEP#4:Thinkofanoveralloutlineforyourspeech.

Questionstoaskyourself:Whatarethekeypointsinmyspeech?HowdoIlogicallyconnectthemtoachievemyspecificpurposethatIidentifiedinstep#3?

NoteonVisualAids:Haveaclearplanastohowyouthinkvisualaidisgoingtosupportyouridea.Howyouthinkitwilladdvaluetoyouraudienceinunderstandingyourmessage.Ifyoucan’tclearlyexplaintoyourselfwhyyouneedit,itisprobablygoingtocomplicateyourlifeandalsoprobablydiluteclarityofyourmessage.Thinkaboutpotentialvisualaidsandpropstousewhileputtingtogetherthespeechoutline.

Examplesofspeechoutline:

1) Iamtellingastoryhere.So,it’sstraight-lineforme,goinandsimplytellmystory.2) Iwanttodevelophowexcitingnanotechnologyisforus.Mystructure/outlineforthemessage:

• Whatisnanotechnology,explainittowardsbeginningofthespeech• Wheredoyouseeitbeingusedtoday…givethreeexamplesforaudiencetounderstandwhere/howitis

touchingtheirlives• Whatexcitesyouaboutit…bringinthatpersonalperspectivetoit

3) Iwanttoentertainmyaudiencewithstoriesfrommyfirstdayathighschool.Ihavethreestories/experiencetoshare,andIwilltransitionfromonestorytothenext

4) Iwanttopersuademyaudiencetoavoidtoomuchrefinedsugar.Mystructure/outlineforthemessage:• Harmfuleffectstoyourbodytoday• Longtermimpactonyourhealthandwellbeing• Talkaboutsoftdrinks,icecream,cookiesandcakes• Bringinapersonalstory/experienceforpersonal/emotionalimpact

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1.MainIdea

2.How doesittieinwithyourproject

objective?

3.ListKeyPoints4.ArrangeThem

5.EliminateUnnecessaryPoints

toKeepYourMessageSimple,

EasytoUnderstand

6. ZoominEachKeyPoint, Develop

It

STEP#5:Whatwillmakeanintriguingopeningforyourpresentation?

Writeitdown,PRACTICE IT A FEW TIMES.

Trymaybemorethanoneoptionsforopening,trythemoutloud,feelthemandthenpickone.

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STEP#6:Whatwillmakeamemorableending?

Writeitdown,PRACTICE IT A FEW TIMES.

Trymaybemorethanoneoptionsfortheending,trythemoutloud,feelthemandthenpickone.

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STEP#7:Whatshouldbethetitleofmyspeech?

Questions/IdeastoConsidertoselectyourspeechtitle:

1) Avoidgivingawayyourspeech,withthetitle.Youwantthemtolistentoyourspeechtoseewhatitis.a. Aspeechtitleinthatregardcanbeverydifferentfromtitleofawrittenessayorabook.Titleina

writtenpiececanprobablybeusedtogivesummaryorsynopsisofwhatisintheessay.Aspeechtitleontheotherhandisatooltointrigueyouraudience.

b. “Whatisyourspeechabout?”Well,comeandlistentome…J2) Titlecouldbeword(s)forakeyideathatyoudevelopinyourspeech.3) Titlecouldbethesurpriseelementoraclimaxthatyoudevelopinyourspeech.4) Maybe,weaveinthetitleinyourconclusion,soyourspeechandconclusionbothcanbememorable.5) Whatisoneideathatispivotalforaudiencetounderstandyourperspectiveonthetopic?Makeityour

speechtitle.6) Tieintitletoyourkeytakeawayforthem.Itwillhelpyoureinforceyourpurposeforthespeech,itcanhelp

youdrivethepointhome.