How To Speech

Instructions:

  1. Prepare a speech demonstrating how to do something or how to make something. Think carefully about what you know, are passionate, or talented at. Your interest in the topic will greatly affect how you deliver the speech and ultimately if your audience will enjoy your speech. It is fine to demonstrate a part of a process, for example: frosting a cake, rather than performing the whole process.
  2. Prepare a list of visual aids. This speech requires you to make use of visual aids. You are responsible for bringing in all visual aids you will make use of in your speech. Practice with these visuals, make sure that you have something to say while you are showing us a part of the process. Complete silence while you reach down and show us how to tie your shoes will not only be a little creepy, but your lack of directions will effect your score.
  3. Create an outline laying out your lesson in chronological order. This document will be due before the date of your speech and will be come pared to your presentation.
  4. Create an aid. You may use both sides of two 3x5 index cards as an aid while delivering your speech, but be careful to make eye contact with your audience. Practice will make this easier.

How to...Write an Outline

1. Identify your topic. Begin by identifying the topic of your speech. Try to stick with a single sentence or phrase, keeping it simple will help to keep you focused.

2. Figure out your main points. What are the main ideas you want to convey or need to convince your audience? These points usually answer the question "why or how is the main topic important?" Together with your topic, these points should help you arrive at a claim and warrants.

3. Arrange your main points in a logical order and list them in the outline. This order can of course be changed later as you evaluate your outline.

4. Create sub-points beneath each major idea. Each time you have a new number or letter, there need to be at least two points (i.e. if you have an A, you need a B; if you have a 1, you need a 2; etc.). This is useful because it forces you to think hard about each point; if you can’t create two points, then reconsider including the first in your paper, as it may be less than useful information that may detract from your argument.

5. Evaluate your outline. Look over what you have written. Does it make logical sense? Is each point suitably fleshed out? Is there anything unnecessary?

For example:

I. What is an Outline?

A. An outline formally arranges and develops your ideas

B. The purpose of an outline is to help you organize your paper, checking to see if and how your ideas connect to each other, or whether you need to flesh out a point or two

II. Macro Outlines

A. Macro outlines, also known as topic outlines, help you to see the larger picture through a series of short phrases

B. Example

1. Each part of the outline consists of just a few words and conveys the basic idea of what belongs there, without going into too much detail

2. It is very easy to quickly look over and see the big picture, making sure you’ve covered all the points that you want to discuss

III. Micro Outlines

A. A micro outline (also known as a sentence outline) goes into the little details of the paper and is particularly useful when the topic you are discussing is complex in nature

B. It can sometimes be useful to insert the quotations you may use and subsequent analysis into your micro outline

C. Example

1. A micro outline tends to be much longer than the macro outline

2. By using complete sentences, you are able to see exactly what you are writing about instead of relying on key words to spark ideas

IV. Crafting an outline

A. Identify Topic: put it in your own words to show your individual understanding

B. Main Points: What are the main ideas you want to convey or need to convince your audience?

C. Arrange your main points in a logical order and list them in the outline

D. Create sub-points beneath each major idea

E. Evaluate your outline. Look over what you have written. Does it make logical sense? Is each point suitably fleshed out? Is there anything unnecessary?

V. Outline to Paper

A. One of the best things about an outline is that you can start at any point and still know what you need to discuss before and after that section

B. It may be that the act of writing these ideas out has spawned new ideas that simply need to be added to your outline

C. Try a retro-outline, which means creating an outline from the paper rather than vice versa. This method is quite useful before handing in any paper, regardless of whether or not you made an initial outline


Speech tips

  1. Color-code your note cards; make spots for voice emphasis, pauses, etc.
  2. Don’t draw attention to your mistakes
  3. Take a deep breath before beginning and after finishing
  4. Vocal variety: talk as if you really mean what you are saying; do not speak in a monotone voice. Have sincerity in your voice. Don’t trail off at the end of your sentence.
  5. Watch out for small words: “um,” “like,” and “you know”
  6. Know your opening and closing lines so you can address the audience directly.
  7. Uses pauses—don’t be in such a hurry. Speak slowly.
  8. Do not center your eye contact on the teacher—spread it around the room