How to Write a Speech With Index Cards

Index cards are an invaluable tool while preparing and giving a speech. We all know how easy it is to bore the audience, if you just decide to read your speech. Such an approach, even though seemingly safe for the person giving the speech, makes it impossible for them to engage in any contact with the audience, which in turn leads to the loss of interest on the side of the listeners.

On the other hand, using index cards to deliver your speech, makes it more natural sounding and interesting, as instead of focusing your full attention on the piece of paper in front of you, you can have a real contact with the public.

So how to write a speech using index cards? Here are a few steps that will make this process easier for you:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Notepad
• Index cards
• Pen

1. First, brainstorm the ideas that you want to include in your speech. Use the notepad for this, just jotting down phrases and sentences, things that you think you'd like to include in your speech. At this point, you don't have to focus on the order of your speech, or even on deciding if a given idea is relevant to the subject of it or not. Allow yourself to be creative. Think of any anecdotes that you might want to include. Think of examples that will help you to get your point across.

2. After you're done brainstorming, take a look at what you've come up with. Cross of the things that are duplicates or don't seem to make much sense. Try to group the others into categories, by looking for connections between them.

3. Write down your main ideas on the index cards and try to arrange them in the order in which you would like to present them. Remember to place the introduction as the first card and the conclusion at the end.

4. Now that you have the order of your speech roughly figured out, look at all the other ideas and points that you were going to use to support your main ideas with. Put those cards next to the index cards that have the main thoughts on them. Which supporting thoughts should come first? Where do you want to use your examples?

5. To reduce the amount of the index cards that you're using, try to consolidate. Write the main thought on top of the index page and then using bullets, add the supporting thoughts, examples etc. under it. Make sure to only use short phrases or even single words. Remember, the point is for those words or phrases to trigger your memory while you're giving your speech rather than provide you with a text ready to read! Keep it short.

6. Try to present your speech speaking out loud. Using your index cards, try to go through it from the beginning to the end. How did it go? Did the order of the ideas you presented seem logical? Did it sound right? Was it appealing? Now is the good time to fine-tune your speech if there is anything that needs fixed.

7. Rehearse. Rehearse. Rehearse. There is no avoiding of this step if you want to deliver a good speech. If you can, try to present your speech to someone - a family member, a friend, etc. Ask them how you did, what you could improve to make your speech better, etc.

Tips & Warnings

• On the day of the speech, make sure to bring your index cards along with you. Even if you think you remember the speech very well and could do without them, it doesn't hurt to bring them just in case. It will give you a peace of mind in knowing that you won't forget to mention anything and you can quickly see what comes next if you get nervous and forget.
• Remember to use only short sentences or single words on your index cards.
• The index cards make it easy to rearrange the order of thoughts in your speech; don't hesitate to reorganize your index cards while you're practicing your speech to make it flow better.
• Don't just shuffle through your cards, mumbling under your breath. Until you speak out loud and hear what you're saying, you might not be aware that some ideas just don't flow well together.
• Once you've figured out the final order in which your index cards should go, number them! A small number in the corner will not interrupt any, but you will be immensely grateful that you did it if you happen to drop your cards and need to put them back in order really fast.

[chrisanimelo444]

on 8/4/2009 Index cards are definitely useful. I use them all the time for memorizing vocabulary. Great article!