How to Prepare for a Speech Midterm

In preparing for a speech midterm, review key elements of a speech.

Whether you are giving a speech or critiquing a speech, there are common characteristics that should be included in the presentation of the speech. The ability to recognize and incorporate the most important elements of a speech into your presentation is the difference between an effective speech and one the audience would rather forget. At the beginning of any speech class, your instructor should inform you of all the elements of a good speech, as well as the vocabulary that goes along with public speaking, such as audience, social context or decoding. In preparing for a speech midterm, it is up to you to make sure you have mastered these concepts.

Instructions

1. List the key components of an effective speech. In order for a speech to be effective, the speaker must have good eye contact, powerful word choice, strong voice, clear message and a comfortable speaking rate. Whether you are giving a speech or critiquing a speech for your midterm, be sure to review these elements and include them in your presentation.

2. Review common terminology used in public speaking, such as audience, context, slang or jargon and verbal or non-verbal cues. To understand how all the elements of a speech work together, you must first understand the terminology associated with the craft. You can practice memorizing speaking terms by using flashcards with the term on one side and the definition on the other. If shown the definition, try and identify the term or vice versa.

3. Study famous speeches from the past. Instructors love to use past examples to teach how things should be done. Most often, there will be a certain aspect of a speech that they wish to highlight, such as the word choice used by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his, "I Have a Dream...," speech. Study past examples of famous speeches and record notes on your thoughts as to why the speech was so memorable.

4. Rest and relax. Once you have all of your studying done and you feel you are prepared, get a good rest and relax. Often, you panic in pressure situations, which causes your brain to not work as effectively as it should. You know your stuff, so relax and show what you know.

References

• Professional Practice Curriculum; Qualities of an Effective Speech
• The Tangerine; "Tips for Preparing for Midterms"; Avion Ashton; October 2010