Structuring the perfect speech.
I don’t want to state the obvious but every speech needs structure.
- A beginning
- A middle
- An end
So let’s break all of that down and consider best practice.
INTRODUCTION
This serves several purposes:
- To engage an audience and stimulate interest
- To allow the audience to adjust to your voice and personality
So how can you do this for the best result? Try any of these options:
- Link with the audience – devise some common ground with a rhetorical question:
“How many of you have …………..?”
“What do you do if ………….?” - Make a startling statement:
“Every second that I talk to you today, four more babies are being born in the world. By the time I have finished there will be 20,000 more mouths to feed. - Quotation:
This is always a good beginning. Find something relevant to your business in the Oxford Book of Quotations or any similar publication. - Relevant Example:
Open with a short anecdote or personal experience which prompted your choice of topic.
THE DEVELOPMENT
Serves several purposes:
- To enlighten by presenting the facts
- To encompass by involving the audience
- To enthuse with personality and confidence
There are several ways to develop your subject – here are some of them:
- Chronological:
Time sequence speeches are possibly the easiest to construct. Arrange your main points in a logical order. - Spatial:
A geographical arrangement of material – East to West, outside to inside. - Parts of a whole:
All aspects of your subject must be covered so you may need ‘note’ headings. N.B.The subject ‘Perception’ may be sub-divided into the 5 senses and extra sensory powers. - Cause and Effect:
A situation is described and the events leading up to it traced.
OR
A dramatic event suggested and the consequences discussed. - Comparison and Contrast:
Certain subjects lend themselves to this. A ‘Training’ focus might contain methods used in the UK compared and contrasted with the USA
THE CONCLUSION
Leave your audience satisfied and try to help them remember:
- REITERATE
Give a brief summary of your main points - USE A STATEMENT OR QUESTION
Self-explanatory. However, make sure you end on a positive note - TELL AN ANECDOTE
A simple relevant story for them to take away - MAKE A HUMEROUS REMARK
If you think your audience is in the right mood you can send them away with a smile. This always creates a good atmosphere
So, there you have it. A potted guide to creating a great Informative Speech.
Enjoy the month, whether you are at work or play and remember…..
Speak wisely
Speak well
Speak Loud & Clear!
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