Study the main principles of speech making

The contents of your speech, and how you deliver it, are based on three important factors:

The Occasion

The occasion will dictate not only the content of your speech, but also the duration, the tone, and the expectations of your audience. For example, humour may be inappropriate during a business presentation or a eulogy, while it may be welcome during a wedding speech, or a sports event.

The Audience

If you are familiar with your audience, then your speech should acknowledge and build upon your existing intimacy with your audience. The use of names and personal details of members of your audience can help to engage your listeners.

If the speech is to an unfamiliar audience then an early goal of your speech must be to build a degree of trust with the listeners.

The Purpose of Your Speech

By setting out a few clear goals before you start writing your speech, you will be better equipped to judge its progress and success of your speech prior to its public airing.

The Structure

Most good writing must have structure. A good speech is no exception. By providing your speech with a beginning, middle, and an end, you will have laid the foundations for a successful speech that fulfils all of your aspirations.

We will now cover each of these areas:

The Beginning

The first thirty seconds of your speech are probably the most important. In that period of time you must grab the attention of the audience, and engage their interest in what you have to say in your speech.

This can be achieved in several ways. For example you could raise a thought-provoking question, make an interesting or controversial statement, recite a relevant quotation or even recount a joke.

Once you have won the attention of the audience, your speech should move seamlessly to the middle of your speech.

The Body

The body of your speech will always be the largest part of your speech. At this point your audience will have been introduced to you and the subject of your speech (as set out in your opening) and will hopefully be ready to hear your arguments, the subject of your speech.

The best way to set out the body of your speech is by formulating a series of points that you would like to raise. In the context of your speech, a "point" could be a statement about a product, a joke about the bridegroom or a fond memory of the subject of a eulogy.

The points should be organized so that related points follow one another so that each point builds upon the previous one. This will also give your speech a more logical progression, and make the job of the listener a far easier one.

Don't try to overwhelm your audience with countless points. It is better to have fewer points that you make well than to have too many points, none of which are made satisfactorily.

The Closing

Like you Opening, the Closing of your speech must contain some of your strongest material.

You should view the closing of your speech as an opportunity. It is an opportunity to:

- Summarise the main points of your speech

- Provide some further food for thought for your listeners

- Leave your audience with positive memories of your speech

- Choose the final thought/emotion.

Scripts, Notes or Memory?

It's now time to prepare to deliver your speech. If you are nervous or inexperienced, you will probably want to choose to read your speech from a script or from notes.

Reading From a Script

Reading your entire speech from a script may give you confidence and ensure that nothing is forgotten or omitted, however it is the least desirable option for delivering your speech. You will find it more difficult to see your audience, and make it harder for them to get involved to you. When reading from a script it is extremely difficult to deliver your speech to your audience, rather than just read it aloud.

Using Notes

If you are not confident enough to recited your speech from memory, then the use of notes is a much more desirable option than using a complete script. Your notes should consist of the keywords or points of your speech - a skeleton of thoughts or words around which you can build your speech. You may refer to your notes occasionally to maintain the thread of your speech, while for the most part of you will be able to speak directly to the audience.

Reciting From Memory

You may prefer to recite from memory. However you should only do this if you are comfortable speaking publicly, and not prone to loss of concentration (or memory!). As with reading from a script, you should be careful not to lapse into a monotonous recitation of your speech.

Speech Delivery Tips

- Make sure that your appearance is well presented

- Speak clearly, and adjust your voice so that everyone can hear you. Don't shout for the sake of being loud

- It is common to speak rapidly when nervous, try to take your time speaking

- Effectively used, a pause in your speech can be used to emphasize a point, or to allow the audience to react to a fact, anecdote or joke

- Make eye contact with your audience. This helps to build trust and a relationship between the speaker and the listeners

- Do not fidget or make other nervous gestures with your hands. - Do not keep your hands in your pockets. Do use hand gestures effectively

- Be yourself; allow your own personality to come across in your speech