A pad of paper and a pen

A clear mind

Something to say (if you don't have a topic, ask the people who invited you to speak to suggest one)

To be very prepared, spend 3 times the time length of the speech on preparation. So if you're speaking for 20 minutes, plan on preparing for at least an hour. Technical subjects may require additional planning time.

Research, then write: Spend an afternoon in the local library (or business library) to widen your range of knowledge on the subject. Using relevant statistics or studies strengthens the force of your argument. Avoid reciting too many numbers, though. You don't want to numb the brains of your audience.

2torial #0694: Learn2 Write a Speech "Four score [gulp!] and seven [umm] years ago..." Thorough preparation is a great solution to public-speaking panic. A well-written speech or presentation fills you with confidence, and provides a solid base for your ideas (you do have ideas, don't you?). What's more, there's no English teacher who'll grade down for punctuation or spelling errors. So relax. As long as you address the main points of your message (you do have a message, don't you?) with clarity and sincerity, you'll come across as a good public speaker. Remember, physical presence has nothing to do with communicating: Lincoln had a thin, high-pitched voice and Eisenhower frequently garbled sentences, yet they managed to get their points across. You will too. Find a place where you can work without distractions. If your home is noisy, try the quiet study room in your local public library. One focused hour is worth three distracted ones. You should also know the speaking time allotted to you. If the correct speech length isn't obvious to you, ask the folks who asked you to speak. If they're too polite to give you a time limitation, enforce one on yourself. Consider the context Now look at a speech as a detective might, noting these factors:   The subject: Determine your topic for this speech, e.g., political activity. What will you speak about? Whether it's on ancient forests or Japanese baseball history, you should have a clear idea of the subject before you start writing. Speak with the organizer of the event if there are any doubts.   The audience: This will determine your voice--the tone of your voice, and the degree of formality in your word choice and sentence structures. Are you're talking to fellow scientists or hyperactive nine-year-olds? Your language should change accordingly.   The purpose: The objective that will define your subject, e.g., "to argue for the possibility of a world without starvation."   The title: Don't worry about an exact title at the outset: this will develop. Likewise, your subject may shift as you acquire more knowledge, but you must start somewhere. Write anything on the topic   That's right: anything. Don't sit down to write the speech--just set down on paper some thoughts and feelings on the general subject of the speech. Don't worry about posterity and popularity, just let it flow. This is an especially good step for those with writer's block. If you have trouble getting into the spirit, try it in a form of a letter. Write your Aunt Nancy in New Iberia about the speech you're going to give, and describe what you plan to say.   During the early stages of your writing, beware of the impulse to overedit, or rather, to edit yourself to a standstill. You don't have to forge the whole speech right now. Just sketch it out. Turn it into a speech   Now that you're got a pile of verbiage, it's time to turn it into a speech. Go through it with a hard eye, picking out the gems and discarding the dross. Then arrange them in a structure that suits both the topic and your perception of the audience. An outline is one option, but you may prefer to detail a list of the things you want to say and go back later numbering (in the margin) the items in order of importance. Then trim the list--maybe by a half. Repetition is essential for retention of a message. The old standard still holds true: Say what you are going to say, then say it, then say what you just said. With regards to voice, let your personality manifest itself on paper. When you finally speak, a comforable style will provide you a more relaxed environment to manifest your own personality. Estimate the time   To best approximate how long your speech will be, simply read aloud three pages of written material at normal speed. Time it, then divide by three: you'll then know how many pages you need to write per minute of your speech. Polish the intro The first objective is to get your audience's attention. Make your entrance fit your personal style, staying clear of a gimmick unless it really works for you. A few options are:   Anecdote: Tell a relevant story (Upon his arrival to India, Sir Falkham searched...) that perks up the audience's ear to your topic. The key word here is relevant--an extraneous anecdote will just confuse 'em.   Surprise: Propose an exciting or outrageous question (What if the world ended tomorrow?). That gets the audience thinking.   Quote: Restate a well-known quote (Ask not what you can...) to introduce a point. But once again, make sure the linkage to the topic at hand is clear.   Fact: Make a factual statement that will impact your audience (According to the Daily Journal, one in three of you will...).   Straight: Go right to it and announce your topic (Our management stinks!). Build up the body of the speech Be consistent and concise. If you want to present yourself as a knowledgeable source, back up your statements. Obviously, a best man need not assure the audience of his friendship to the groom; however, your statements about the oil crisis (or the burgeoning popularity of Albanian cuisine) will require examples and/or numbers.   Bad example: It's sinking, you know!   Good example: As reported by Frank Ford's Senatorial Task Force, the city of Baloosa is sinking at a rate of three inches a year. Don't go overboard, detailing every single item with five references, but be consistent. Cut out any redundant points. The Conclusion Close your speech with a statement summarizing the content of your speech. You need not write "In closing" or "In conclusion;" a summary will be blatant enough. You may choose to thank those responsible, and thank your audience for their time. The Edit Expert speechwriters go through many levels of rewrites, but you should do at least three. Be your own worst critic, and ask someone else to read it as well to get an outside perspective: you'll most certainly miss a few obvious mistakes. -end- Learn More!