How to Create a Speech

One of life’s terrors for the uninitiated is creating a speech.
Some first reactions might be terror and fear and sheer panic.
But like anything else, creating a speech can be learned and mastered.
The fact is each one of us has a store of material, which should be of interest to others.
There’s no reason why it should not be adapted to a compelling speech…

1. Know how to speak… being able to speak well may lead to mean better grades, better pay, and better communication.
2. How to pick a topic… what are your interests?  What do you know about a given field or subject?  What are the interests of those to whom you will speak?
3. How to plan what you will say… here’s where you do your homework… in short, gather and learn far more than you’ll ever use.  Organize, outline, and edit your notes to three basic parts.. the introduction, the body, and the conclusion or summation of your speech.
4. Introduction… this sets the mood.  First impressions are everything. Tell them what you are about to tell them.
5. The main body… this is your core content.  Make sure it is entertaining, persuasive, inspiring, instructional, or a good combination of these.
6. Conclusion or summation… tell them what you just told them.  A good ending sets the speech in the audience’s mind. It reviews the main points of the speech and perhaps repeats a phrase which most embodies what the speaker has hoped to convey.
7. Sound spontaneous.. it takes three weeks to prepare a good ad lib speech.  Make it come together smooth and easy.
8. Brevity is an asset…  Be brief, be brilliant and be done.  20 minutes are ideal.
9. Check your grammar… consult a dictionary; pronounce words carefully.
10. At the lectern… pick three or four people in the audience, preferably in separate sectors, who seem to be having a good time. Focus on them during your speech.
11. Remember, the larger the crowd, the easier it is to speak, because their response is multiplied and increased.