1. Fall 2009

2.  Commit to giving your speech  Know your audience  Determine your purpose ◦ Inform ◦ Persuade ◦ Entertain ◦ Inspire ◦ Promote a product or idea

3.  What will they know of subject?  What background information do they need?  What technical or complex matters have to be explained?  How can they be kept interested?  What questions might they ask?

4.  Will audience be interested in topic or will you need to work to get their attention?  Will the audience be able to follow your speech easily or will you need to forecast major themes early for them?

5.  Definitions  Instructions and demonstrations  Oral reports ◦ Factual ◦ Advisory  Explanatory ◦ Similar to definition ◦ Connects concepts ◦ Rationale important

6.  The ideal length  Organize your speech ◦ The Beginning-- Tell them what you are going to tell them ◦ The Body -- Tell them ◦ The Closing -- Tell them what you have told them  Organize the manuscript to fit your style

7.  Refer to subject or problem  Refer to occasion  Ask rhetorical question  Make startling statement of fact or opinion  Use apt quotation  Relate humorous anecdote relevant to topic  Cite real or hypothetic illustration

8.  20 minute talk should have no more than 3 main points  Structure: ◦ Timeline – sequential order ◦ Climax  Main points delivered in order of increasing importance ◦ Problem/solution  Problem presented, solution suggested, benefits given ◦ Classification  Important items are major points ◦ Simple to complex  Ideas listed from simplest to most complex or can be done in reverse

9.  Questions to ask: ◦ Do I need a summary ◦ Does content lead naturally to a “so what” question ◦ What mood do I want to leave audience in ◦ How should I signal my speech is ending

10.  Issue a challenge or appear to audience  Summarize major points  Provide appropriate quotation  Epitomize points with illustration  Offer additional inducement for accepting or acting on proposal advocated

11.  Practice, practice, practice ◦ Appearance ◦ Dress appropriately for occasion ◦ Posture ◦ Body language ◦ Gestures ◦ Speech patterns ◦ Voice

12.  Eye contact  Facial expressions  Gestures  Posture and body orientation  Proximity

13.  Volume  Tone  Pitch  Pace  Color  Vary the voice

14.  Show enthusiasm  Never mumble or gabble  Use short words and simple sentences  Use gestures  Use notes only for prompts  Convert statistics into charts and graphs – make them simple to understand

15.  Develop a conversational style  Use vocal variety  Use gestures and movement  Express emotions naturally  Use eye contact  Use spontaneous expressiveness

16.  Using visuals ◦ Speakers’ goals are met 34% more often when visuals are used  Attributes of good visuals ◦ Uncluttered ◦ Upper and lower case ◦ Spelling! ◦ Readable ◦ Use of colors, illustrations and charts

17.  Know the room ◦ Audio visual equipment ◦ Lectern/Podium ◦ Seating ◦ Light switches

18.  “Fight or flight” response actually helps you  Take deep breaths  Walk out the tension  Be familiar with your speech -- memorize the opening  Take a moment alone  Put the experience in perspective  Pause before you start  Lock eyes with one person

19.  Do not read from handouts  Don’t put your hands in you pockets  Don’t wave a pointer around  Do not lean on the podium  Speak to the audience not the visual aids  Do not stand between the audience and the visual aids  Speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard  Don’t speak in a monotone  Use colored backgrounds on visuals aids so they are not harsh on the eye

20.  Circulate around the room when you speak  List and discuss your objectives at the beginning of the presentation  Let the audience know how your presentations fits in with their goals  Vary your techniques (lecture, discussion, debate, etc.)  Get to the presentation before the audience and be the last to leave  Be prepared to use an alternative approach iff the one you have chosen bogs down  Consider the time of day and how long you have for your presentation  Most people find that the actual presentation takes 25 percent more time than what they practiced in their head.