How to Prepare a Speech

On occasion an ordinary person does something wonderful and people want to hear about the experience. It requires this ordinary person to speak to an auditorium full of people. This will not take away your nerves, but it will give you more confidence when you speak.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• 3 by 5 notecards
• Pen and paper
• Computer (optional)
• Notebook paper

How to Prepare a Speech

1. On the notebook paper you will need to break your speech into sections. Use an outline form. You need to divide your speech into introduction, main topic and ending. When you are asked to speak, you will usually be given an alloted time for the speech. Very rarely is a guest speaker expected to speak longer than 20 minutes.
2. Introduction. You may wish to take a few minutes to describe who you are and how you came to be standing before this group. On your 3 by 5 cards list one word item which describe yourself. You can then speak about them from memory. Keep your description to name, occupation and what brought you to the meeting. For instance, you survived a lightening strike. You may say something such as " I am John Doe and I am a firefighter. I was fighting a fire on Mount Question when I was struck by lightening." This sentence may also be your transition to the main topic.
3. On your 3 by 5 card you might want to list the events as they happened and when you speak, you will describe each event. Your transition to the ending might include a story of how this event changed your life, your marriage or your job.
4. The ending does not have to be long. It should reiterate the most important things you learned from your experience. Usually, in this type of speech, if you do not fill the complete 20 minutes, you can have a question and answer period. In answering, do not be afraid to say you do not know or you do not remember.
5. When you have completed your note cards you may choose to enter the information on a computer. This will enable you to have a record of your notes for future reference. Also you can print out readable note cards for yourself. Practice in front of a mirror until you get your
   speech to fit the time limit given to you.

Tips & Warnings

• Topics may not be about a personal experience but about something about which you are an expert. You would use the same preparation.
• Have someone record your speech.
• Make eye contact with one person on each side of the auditorium sitting 3 or 4 rows back on the aisle while you speak. This way you will not be distracted by the mass audience to which you are speaking. Allow your eyes to drift from left to right and back. Everyone feels included. In a large audience you may select as many as 4 or 5 people. Two on the outer edges, 2 on the inner edges and 1 in the balcony. Speaking to these people directly eases nerves a bit. When selecting people, make certain you select someone who is listening to you and making eye contact with you.

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