Series-2: ORGANIZE YOUR SPEECH

Dear speakers now that you have given your first public speech, you must be transcending the excitement, initial hiccup & conquer the stage!!
So I proceed to the next level in speaking- “structuring an effective speech.”

Objectives:

1. Select an appropriate outline which allows listeners to follow & understand your speech.

2. Make your message clear, with supporting material directly contributing to the message.

3. Use appropriate transitions when moving from one idea to another.

4. Create a strong opening and conclusion.

Time frame: 5-7 minutes.

As a speaker, your role is to tell others about your ideas and occasionally persuade them to take some action. Audience will be more receptive to your efforts if you take time to assemble your thoughts in a logical manner.

Well-organized speeches have several benefits for the audience: - easier to understand, remember points & examples, credible & enjoyable.

When you plan the points you want to present in an order, you will be able to deliver effectively.

Select your topic:

First choose a topic of your interest & target audience that would generate speech ideas.

Consider few topics like- articles that attracted you, real estate, tattooing, commuting, relationships, blogging, secret cameras etc.

Make sure the topic is not too broad, it should be timely framed & present the points you are intended to deliver. Therefore do not make it mess with too much info.

Once you know your topic determine the points to make. For example, the topic is ‘internet access to children,’ then do you convince audience that parents should completely watch their child accessed websites? Or will try to make it humors by citing incidents that happened to you in your child hood?



Making an outline:

The next stage in your speech preparation is to logically assemble your ideas into a sequence that will aide achieve your objective. There are different ways to organize and the method largely depends on your chosen topic & objective.

Chronological:

The topic is arranged by time. That is your speech could describe steps in a process like- 5 steps in making a career change etc.

Spatial:

In this type the topic follows a direction. For example, if you speech is about multi stored constructions, then you could first discuss the outline, type of infra structure & flowers to use for decoration, will you consider ground floor for any business space or just plan a swimming pool? Etc.

Casual:

This type shows cause and effect relationships. The effect is discussed first, then the cause. A speech about that describes how a hurricane is formed & its destructiveness fits this organizational pattern.

Comparative:

Your compare & contrast different proposals or plans, to persuade the audience that one plan is better. In a presentation to your client, you often compare all the proposals from different teams & present the best one to persuade them.

Topical:

The main topic is split into many sub topics. The smooth transitions on this split patterns will prove your audience the organizational & details to minute info. A speech on the leadership styles will lead to think first about the definition, types existing, then the styles etc.

Problem-solution:

The speaker presents a problem that should be solved & a solution. There are many examples, like pollution, decision making to a problem that had impacted your client’s business etc.

Developing the opening:

In my series 1 blog you learned that every speech has an opening, body & conclusion.

The opening should immediately catch audience’s attention and tell them what you will be talking about. Some good openings: -

 An appropriate quotation, story or illustration.

 A startling question or a challenging statement.

 A display of some object or picture.

 A generalization that ties in with your subject.

Avoid these kinds of weak openings:

 A story or joke that doesn’t relate to your speech.

 An apologetic statement.

 A common place observation.

 A long or slow moving story.

 Stock questions like- “did you imagined this..?” or “have you thought about this…?”

Draft the body:

It is the main part of your speech and consists of the facts or ideas you want to present. Most listeners will remember only 3-5 main facts or ideas. So for a speech of 7 minutes 3 ideas are more than sufficient.

What facts do you want to convey?

Write down all that is related to your speech on small cards, using one card per idea and one sentence per idea or fact. Then select the three best cards. These will be the main ideas you will present. Arrange them in order of their occurrence in your talk.

Now elaborate on each main point with sub points. A subpoint clarifies or emphasizes the fact it suppers. Also these sub points make the speech more interesting and help listeners remember the main idea.

Supporting material then follow each subpoint. Supporting material can include: -

 Statistics: these convey info about incidents, data and events.

 Testimony: these are quotes or opinions from people with expertise on the matter.

 Examples, stories or anecdotes: they relate an event that happened to someone or you.

 Visual aids: can be charts, pictures, objects or models.

 Facts: they are variable information.

Whatever supporting material you choose, make sure it is relevant to the point you are making.

Conclusion:

It is your final opportunity to convey your message & points. This should reinforce your ideas and leave listeners with a lasting impression. If you were persuading or motivating the audience to take some action, then suggest a course of action. You could then conclude with a final remark, like a challenge, question, or quotation.

Note: in the conclusion never try to introduce any new material that you have forgotten in your main body. This would confuse the audience. Also never apologize for anything you may not say. Finish with confidence & right posture.

Pay attention to transitions:

Audiences need help in smooth transition between points which are considered as bridges. They are usually used as you move: -

1. From introduction to the body.

2. From main point to subpoint.

3. From subpoint to support material.

4. Support material to another main idea.

5. From the last support material to the conclusion.

Transitional words: afterward, also, but, consequently. Consider, finally, instead, later, meanwhile, moreover, next, then, yet.

Transitional phrases: according to, as a result, for example, for instance, this means, to illustrate, more importantly, in addition to, let’s begin with etc.