Steps of Speech Writing

1. Select a Topic Sometimes a topic will be assigned to you, and other times you will be able to select your own topic. If you are able to choose your topic, be sure to choose something you are passionate about.

2a. Identify your Audience and Purpose The purpose of your speech is what you want the speech to accomplish. Purposes may include to inform, to persuade, or to entertain your audience To Inform: Give facts or explain how to do something To Persuade: Attempt to change the listeners' opinion or get them to take action To Entertain: Relate an amusing or interesting story or incident

2b. Identify your Audience and Purpose The occasion of your speech is determined by when and where the speech takes place. Is it informal or formal? For formal speeches, do not use slang terms and be sure to use standard formal English. Choose words carefully and be professional. When is the speech going to be given? If it is on a special holiday, you can connect your ideas to that holiday. Where is the speech going to be given? If it is to be given in a historical place, include a portion of the city's heritage in your speech. This will allow your audience to connect to what you are saying. Are there other conditions that might affect your speech? Keep time limits in mind. Do you get to choose your topic or is it given to you? Can you use note cards? Which types of visual aids are available for you to use?

3. Analyze the Audience The needs, abilities, and interests of your audience should be kept in mind as you write your speech. Consider what your audience already knows about your topic. If your audience isn't naturally interested in your topic, consider ways to draw their interests. If you are speaking to a group of pilots on the topic of airplane types, you would not need to explain many of the terms to your audience. The age of your audience should make a difference in your word choices, examples, and visual aids used. If you are speaking to a class of peers, you would use terminology and word choices that are familiar to you. If you are speaking to a class of first grade students, use more simple word choices and examples. Be prepared to explain some of the new vocabulary terms to the audience.

4a. Gather Information You will need to complete brainstorming to gather ideas for your speech topic. There are many formats of brainstorming: Free Writing Listing Venn Diagrams Bubbling/Clustering/Mapping Venn Diagram Bubbling/Clustering/Mapping

4b. Gather Information You will need to research your ideas to gather support. Make your speech interesting to your audience and make it fit the occasion and purpose for your speech. Make sure your searches include credible sources. View the Prezi tutorial in evaluating websites (linked below).

5a. Organize your Notes Look over your brainstorming, research, and notes to create an organized outline that maps out your speech path. Do not skip this step. This makes you look at the structure of your notes to help deliver your speech in the most organized way. Outline

5b. Organize your Notes Never plan to read a report, paper, or entire note cards word for word when delivering a speech. From your organized outline, create note cards to help you deliver your ideas. Use a separate note card for each main point. Use a special note card for anything you plan to read word for word, such as a quote or series of dates/statistics. Use separate note cards to indicate when to use a visual aid. Number your note cards to keep them in order.

6. Use Media and Visual Aids Effectively Using visual aids can either enhance your speech or distract your audience. Your job is to use visual aids that entice your audience and draw interest to your speech. Do not allow your visual aids to distract your audience from your topic. If it does not promote deeper understanding of your topic, consider leaving that aid out. Be sure your visual aids are large enough to see or loud enough to hear. Visual aids should not take more than 10% of your overall speech time.

7. Rehearse Rehearse your speech just as you plan to deliver your speech Use your visual aids when you rehearse Rehearse more than once Time yourself Rehearse in front of a mirror or video tape yourself Critique yourself. What went well? Where can you improve? Rehearse in front of an audience Be sure to ask them what you did well and where you can improve