Ideas for a Demonstration Speech
During a demonstration speech, the speaker tells the audience how to do something, how to make something or how something works. The demonstration speech topic can be simple or complicated, and is often backed up with visual aids or props. For the best demonstration speech topic ideas, know your audience and choose something that will generate interest and provide information.
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How to Make Something
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Demonstration speeches provide the opportunity to teach your audience how to make something. A topic that you are familiar with is always a good choice so that the speech flows easily. Food topic ideas are abundant; for example, how to make a cake, how to clean and fry a fish, how to grate cheese or how to make a milkshake. Any recipe can be turned into a demonstration speech. Props that allow your audience to follow each step are effective. If you cannot use props, consider slides or other pictures to enhance a demonstration speech. Be sure the topic is something you have made yourself, so there will be no surprises during the speech.
How to Do Something
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Demonstrating to an audience how to do something, or how something works, is also an area that offers plenty of topic ideas. How to use a gadget such as a computer, cell phone or touch pad are all valid topics. Demonstrating the use of a particular software will also work well. Sports topics are plentiful, like how to clean golf clubs or calculate a handicap, how to score a game of bowling, how to pack a backpack for hiking or how to bunt a baseball. Think about your own strengths and abilities in order to generate a speech idea. How to change the oil in a car, how to install a ceiling fan or how to change the bag in a vacuum will each make a good topic if you have first-hand experience with it.
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Business Topics
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In a business environment, demonstration speech ideas need to be timely and informative. How to write a resume, how to master an interview, how to apply for a loan or how to set up a retirement plan are possible topics. Self-help topics can also be applied to a business audience. How to be a good employee, how to be a team player, how to resolve conflicts and how to think on your feet are general topic ideas that can be used as a springboard toward more specific titles.
Tips
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Start your demonstration speech with a rousing introduction that will get the audience excited about what they are going to learn. Tell them why you chose the topic and what they will be able to learn from it. Be sure your how-to-steps are in the proper chronological order so your audience will not be confused. With a topic on how to make something, having the materials and actually making the item, if possible, will keep your audience engaged. Handouts with step-by-step instructions can be used during the speech or given out at completion.
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References
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