7 Simple Steps to Prepare and Deliver a Speech

							Central to the art of public speaking is the method used to prepare and deliver
speeches. If we are sure we know how to go about preparing and delivering a speech,
our fear subsides and we can lose ourselves in the preparation of our remarks. Good
preparation will allow us to de 琹 iver the speech with confidence and often with
pleasure The purpose of this article is to outline and explain the steps of a tried and
tested method.

1. Determine the purpose of your speech. Good public speaking is purposeful. There
should be a good reason for the time and energy spent in preparing, delivering and of
course listening to the speech. The best measure of a speech is what it does for the
audience. Therefore the speech purpose should be defined in terms of the audience
reaction. To determine the purpose of the speech ask the question, "What do you want
the audience to do as a result of hearing your speech?

2. Select the Central Idea of the Speec.h The careful selection of the central idea is
one of the most important steps because a major goal of good public speaking is the
communication of ideas. The central idea is the unifying factor of your speech. This is
achieved by breaking the idea down into subdivisions which can be used as headings
for your speech.

3. Selecting the Means of Presenting the Central Idea. Once the central idea has been
decided on the speaker is ready to select the means most appropriate to his task.
Depending on the task the speaker will select one of, or, a combination of the
following means;- Humour - should they joke with the audience Narration - tell a
story Exposition 'present data Justify- argument Motivation - appeal to the audience's
emotions

4. Researching Information to Support Your Ideas. There are 4 general sources that
the speaker may go for help and generally in the following order (i) From himself -
the knowledge and experience they have already gained (ii)Reading/Watching - from
various sources e.g. internet, books, films (iii) Talking with others - interviewing by
phone or face to face (iv)Writing or emailing for data

5. Selecting and Arranging Your Research (Outlining.) It will be usual if your research
has been thorough that you will have more data than you can use for your speech. You
will then have two problems. The first is what you should keep. The second is what
order will you present the material. You will principally refer to the central idea to
select the material to include in the speech, based on the relevancy of the material.
The secondary points to consider in selecting the items to present are: (i) What is the
most interesting? (ii) What is the emotional impact? (iii) Which is briefest? (iv)
Which is most illustrative? (v) Which has the most authority?

The arrangement of the materials follows a 3 part process to prepare a working outline;
(i) Into 3 parts 'introduction, body and conclusion (ii) Headings arranged into a logical
order (iii)The material put in order to support the heading

6. Practicing the speech. Like a play you should deliver your speech several times in
front of friends and if possible in the room where it is to be delivered. The closer the
practice conditions and surroundings are to the actual conditions you will face the
better prepared you will be for the actual delivery of your speech. You should practice
your speech until you become familiar with it but not so often that it is committed to
memory. You should not commit to memory because you will probably lose the
conversational quality of the speech and the speech becomes inflexible.

7. Delivery Of The Speech. A speech should be seen as a sincere effort to
communicate and this is done best in a direct, conversational, and lively delivery. It is
a sincere effort to communicate not an act or a performance. Approach the position
you will speak from enthusiastically. Take a firm but comfortable stance. Your hands
should be at your side except when you are gesturing. It is good to move to enhance
an idea or relieve any tension you may be feeling.

The main component to the art of speaking excellence is the communication of ideas.
The method outlined here will enable you to present your ideas effectively and with
confidence.