Ways to Emphasize a Speech
A speech can be created to introduce or promote an idea or to persuade an audience to take action on social issues. Speakers aim to emphasize the main ideas of their presentation in different ways, such as voice pitch and volume, pace, pauses, repetition, visual aids, humor, stories and gestures.
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Planning the Speech
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The first step in planning a presentation is analyzing the audience. Information on the audience's interests, values and backgrounds helps you understand what listeners expect to hear. Select a topic that interests you and is relevant to the audience. Develop the body of the presentation with accurate, factual information, and identify methods to emphasize certain points.
Visual Aids
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A speech can be enhanced when a speaker uses well-designed and professional visual aids to display or project relevant information. Drawings, illustrations, cartoons, photographs, or computer-generated presentations can emphasize the main ideas of the speech in a condensed form. Visual aids are passed around as handouts for small audiences or projected for larger groups. Audiovisual equipment must be tested and practiced. A backup plan is necessary in case equipment breaks down.
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Humor and Stories
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Humor and stories can capture the attention of the audience and emphasize key points of the presentation. Humorous stories or jokes can be tested on friends or acquaintances to make sure they are funny and practiced to ensure that you deliver humor effectively. The humor should not diminish your dignity in the eyes of the audience or embarrass or demean listeners by referring to topics such as gender, ethnicity, politics or religion.
Varying Voice Pitch, Volume and Pace
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A speaker can alter the high to low pitch of his voice to avoid a droning monotone, and sound natural, conversational and enthusiastic. The volume of the speech should be loud enough to be heard by everyone in the audience, but adjusted to emphasize key points and keep the listener's interest. Words are emphasized when a speaker increases his pitch and volume. The pace of the speaker can add emphasis. A speech delivered at a faster pace can build suspense or excitement, while a slower pace can stress the importance of an idea. A pause after important ideas provides listeners with time to reflect and understand the material presented.
Expanding and Repeating Key Points
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During the speech, watch the audience for signs of solid interest in a key idea. Emphasize and expand an idea by presenting relevant facts. Stress main points by repeating them during the speech or in a closing summary.
Gestures
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You can add expression and maintain the audience's attention during a speech through fast, energetic and unpredictable movements of your arms and hands. Other gestures, such as walking back and forth or fidgeting, can be distracting.
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References
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